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I possess a few opinions about that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he brought up the ongoing drought of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few seasons has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

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

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and forced him to use far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {