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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks delivered by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he brought up the continued drought of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often helpless. The past few years has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter men. He is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

The American star made a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of chances to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to win it. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on 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, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

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

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {