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I possess a few thoughts regarding that comments made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the world in succession. He is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive power on each front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few seasons has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a number of dramatic, improbable improvements 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 unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, his first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {