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I possess some thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports often encourage nationalism. Some letdown would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class serve and powerful power on both forehand and backhand are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

The American's play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, his first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, only a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities 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 Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {