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I have a few thoughts regarding that comments made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued drought of American men at the majors: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful power on each forehand and backhand are more than enough to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When he eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the tactic he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {