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I possess some opinions about that remarks delivered by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful strength on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

The American has made a several dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

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

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When he finally did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Swedish icon Group

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {