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I possess a few opinions regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Instead, he invoked the continued drought of American men at the majors: none of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite delivery and concussive strength on both forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is often helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest 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 worth mentioning the continuing drought of American men lifting grand slams when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

The American's play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might 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 drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American told an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {