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I have some thoughts regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. Fritz 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 soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves 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 decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to break. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {