For American Men, U.S. Open Hints at Better Days Ahead

Reilly Opelka of the United States after losing a point against Lloyd Harris in his match on Monday.Credit...Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports, via ReutersIt took a while, but after the American Reilly Opelka and his big serve were eliminated in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Monday by Lloyd Harris of South Africa, I decided to go searching.

I had to weave through the big crowds that have happily again been part of the experience at this year’s tournament. I had to work my way up and down the concourse, examining the banners that commemorate, year by year, the past Open champions — most of whom seemed to be named Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer — before arriving at my…