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I have a few opinions about the comments delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator have been 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 Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {