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I have a few thoughts regarding that remarks made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment was appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the continued drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway 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 major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in press following his defeat that he actually liked his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive strength on both front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of American men winning major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; 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 set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say how he feels or the tactic he believed 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 unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {