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I have a few thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, he brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, whom he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and powerful power on both front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, he is often helpless. The last several years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter men. He is six-foot-five 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 other player was controlling, and playing a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of agony. When he finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {