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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 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 tired Djokovic in the next round). He stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, improbable improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, 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 legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive effort to win it. Down match points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, prepared to not only say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {