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I possess a few opinions regarding the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is well within his right to aim for 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 American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, he is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter players. 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 seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed 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 made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

The American's play in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {