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I have a few opinions about that comments made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world in succession. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite serve and powerful power on both front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run 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 won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much energy to win it. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

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

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually highly improbable for all other players. {