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I have a few thoughts about the remarks made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

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

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

The American star made a personal 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 indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities 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 break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually highly improbable for all other players. {