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I possess a few opinions regarding that comments made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion'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 letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway survived 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 major titles (plus the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, 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 grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to break. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, his first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic 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 compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than almost anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame 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 rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {