The US Open is known for unveiling new talents, and this year is no exception. Amidst the seasoned pros, a fresh face is making waves, and it’s none other than rising American star Eliot Spizzirri. The young player has been turning heads, not just on the courts but also off them, capturing the admiration of none other than Matthew McConaughey. Spizzirri’s latest display of skill and tenacity has wooed the Hollywood icon, adding an extra layer of excitement to his journey through the qualifiers.

Spizzirri defeated Joao Fonseca in the US Open qualifiers to make a place for himself in the main draw. He will now be facing his compatriot Alex Michelsen in the first round of the tournament. His relentless skills on the courts even gained him praise from renowned actor McConaughey. Taking to his X page, McConaughey wrote, “Longhorn @espizz11 onto the @usopen main draw. #hookem.” But, who is Spizzirri, and how much do we know about the 22-year-old?

Born on December 23, 2001, Spizzirri picked up racquets when he was just five years of age. He started playing under the guidance of Patrick Hirscht when he was eight, and the partnership between them has remained unbreakable since then. For the American star, Hirscht “has been my coach for my whole life and he turned me into the player I am today.” Spizziri’s love for tennis has been evident since his teenage.

The 22-year-old resorted to online schooling ever since he completed his 8th grade, to focus more on tour and other tennis events he played at the Junior level. He also trained part-time at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. This training has given Spizzirri much-needed skills, thereby making hard courts his favorite surface. Known for his forehand skills, the American star considers Roger Federer as his idol on tour. However, it has not been long since his professional journey came to light. 

Spizzirri made his ATP Tour main draw debut at the Newport Classic last year. But the World No. 343 started making waves on the tennis courts for a long time. Having completed his junior year at the University of Texas in 2023, Spizziri finished as the No. 1 player in singles in the ITA collegiate rankings. He was only the 2nd player from Texas after Steve Bryan to bag this position since 1990.

Spizzirri was also named 2023 ITA National Player of the Year and All-American in singles and doubles. On the ITF World tennis tour, the American has a 14-11 career record and the young star is now ready to make a place for himself on the professional stage.

When Eliot Spizzirri opened up about his desire for pro tennis

Eliot Spizzirri’s latest run at the US Open qualifiers is making him a significant force to watch out for at the tournament. But, this journey was not easy for him and he himself expressed the fire in the belly that collegiate tennis players like him have.

Speaking to ATP Tour.com in 2023, Spizzirri said, “I think most of the top college players want to go on and play pro tennis or at least give it a shot.” Continuing further, he revealed his mental preparedness for the grand events. “So I think I’m ready to give it a try. I feel mentally ready. And we’ll see how it goes. You don’t know how ready you are until you get out there. And then you play these matches and get the opportunities and the experiences.”

With the US Open already around the corner, it would be interesting to see if he can continue his momentum from the qualifiers and win big at the Grand Slam.