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I possess a few opinions about that remarks made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d someway survived 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 divided the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful strength on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

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

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just say how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {