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I possess a few opinions regarding the comments delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment was understandable. Instead, he brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, myself included. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). He stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked fourth in the world starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six matches over third-ranked 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’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous chances to break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much energy to prevail. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {