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I possess a few thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some letdown was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued absence 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 tournament.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. His elite delivery and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few years has seen the curious emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a number of significant, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing slump of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star made a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {