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I have some thoughts about the comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the world in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter players. He is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

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

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, extending the run to the point of agony. When he finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

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

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {