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I possess a few thoughts regarding that remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown would have been understandable. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of American men 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 enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive power on both forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged up to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

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

The American's play in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {