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I have some opinions regarding that remarks made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, me too. But really. Even if Fritz had beaten the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aspire to 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?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use excessive energy to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad evidence that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up 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 do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Swedish icon Division

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

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {