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I possess a few thoughts about the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he 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 split the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the world in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive power on each front side and backhand are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, 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 worth commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players winning grand slams 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 last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, 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 game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought 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 sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only say how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

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

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {