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I have a few thoughts about the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful strength on both forehand and backhand are more than enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming speed and grace of smaller men. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of US male players winning grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and never especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than almost anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {