There’s a long track record of American players breaking through for unexpected storied runs at their national Major, the US Open. In 2017, the women’s semis became an all-American affair, with No. 9 Venus Williams being joined by No. 15 Madison Keys, No. 20 Coco Vandeweghe, and eventual champion Sloane Stephens, who needed a protected ranking just to enter the tournament. Last year, Frances Tiafoe pushed Carlos Alcaraz to five sets in a thrilling semifinal following an unlikely run as the No. 22 seed.
There are no shortage of unheralded male and female candidates who could be poised to make a similar push this year, but don’t overlook unseeded dark horse Mackenzie McDonald.
Admittedly, McDonald doesn’t fit the profile of a typical breakout candidate. The Florida native is already 28 years of age and owns a meager 1-5 record in New York. What he does possess right now, however, is momentum. Up to a career-high ranking of No. 39, he picked up five wins across the past two Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati.
In Toronto, McDonald marched to the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open with wins over the likes of No. 7 seed Andrey Rublev and hometown favorite Milos Raonic. One week later, he knocked off No. 5 Holger Rune along the way to the third round before retiring from his match with Adrian Mannarino. This impressive two-week showing has further added to a strong 2023 season that has seen him stun an injury-marred Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open and reach a pair of ATP semifinals in Delray Beach and Eastbourne.
The other thing working in McDonald’s favor is the draw that awaits. He is scheduled to face No. 15 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the opening round. While coming up against a former US Open semifinalist in round one seems less than ideal, the Canadian has struggled mightily this season, sporting a 14-14 record that includes a 1-6 record over his past six matches and opening round losses in each of the past two Slams.
Should McDonald manage to pull off the upset over Auger-Aliassime in the battle of two players headed in difference directions, he would come up against either 149th-ranked Bolivian Hugo Dellien or a qualifier. From there, No. 20 Francisco Cerundolo could be waiting, although the Argentine is just 8-7 on hard courts this year.
While there are certainly signs that the draw gods left the door open for McDonald, you can bet the UCLA alum and former NCAA champion isn’t taking anything for granted. Back in 2019, he was sidelined for nearly eight months after tearing his right hamstring during a first round doubles match at the French Open. The injury was so severe it rendered him unable to walk for two months, but he rallied to return to the court at the start of the 2020 season.
McDonald knows nothing is guaranteed, which is why he will be looking to take full advantage of his opportunity at the year’s final mMjor.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
