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I have a few thoughts regarding the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder 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 (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired 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 beat the top three competitors in the world in succession. He is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on each front side and backhand are more than enough to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. 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 controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz 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 tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than virtually everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American told an interviewer in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {