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I have some thoughts regarding that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued absence of US male players at the majors: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

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

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite delivery and powerful strength on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, though, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {