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I have a few opinions regarding that comments made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite serve and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter players. He 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 other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {