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I have a few thoughts about the remarks made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners in mind?

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

The American, 28, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing drought of American men winning major titles when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task 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 ought to have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous opportunities to break. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is not good enough to defeat any version of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {