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I have some thoughts about the remarks delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked 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 final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He said in press after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

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

The American, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful strength on each forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The last several years has witnessed the curious emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never 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 anymore, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {