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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: none 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 storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive power on each front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently overmatched. The past few years has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, unexpected 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 approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only say his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {