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I have a few thoughts about the comments made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually liked his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous 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 looked well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the last game, his first serve sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not only express how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

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

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {