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I possess a few thoughts about the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on each forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling 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 next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of American men winning grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

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

The American's performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only say his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for everybody else. {