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I have some opinions regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He said in press after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful power on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to defeat most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, though, he is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. 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 hitting a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing slump of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use excessive energy to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, his first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

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

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {