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I possess some thoughts about the comments made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Instead, he invoked the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). He said in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful strength on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a several significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {