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I have a few thoughts regarding the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in press after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the world in succession. He is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful strength on both front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, his first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {