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I possess some opinions about that comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, Fowler is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: not one 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 narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, though, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been 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 slump of US male players lifting major titles 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 challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use excessive energy to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was quite ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express how he feels or the strategy he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Division

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

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {