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I possess some thoughts about the comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a storyline, me too. But really. Suppose the American had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked the German 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 far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive power on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is often helpless. The last several seasons has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star achieved a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When he eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to use far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually extremely unlikely for everybody else. {