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I have some thoughts about that comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he brought up the continued drought of American men 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.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved 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 after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players winning grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {