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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Instead, he brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive strength on both front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has seen the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players winning major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

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

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Down match points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak 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 Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {