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I possess some opinions regarding that remarks delivered by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the lack of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful strength on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz 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 opponent was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When he eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly 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 forced him to use far too much energy to win it. Down set points in the last game, his first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {