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I possess a few thoughts about that comments made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive power on both forehand and backhand are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, prepared to not just say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {