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I have some thoughts regarding the comments made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz went on 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 presented the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners in mind?

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

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on both forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork 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 playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, unexpected advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, 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 defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When he eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to win it. Down set points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz told an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {