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I possess some opinions about that remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

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

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that is as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t do it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {