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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks delivered by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is often helpless. The last several years has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator 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 major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's play in that very last eight match should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of agony. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Down set points in the last game, his first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not just say how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {