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I possess some thoughts regarding the remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued drought of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven grand slams (and Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a several significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing slump of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

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

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not only say how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

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

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly improbable for all other players. {