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I possess some thoughts about the comments delivered by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But really. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming 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 the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the world in succession. He is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and powerful strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is often helpless. The last several years has seen the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, improbable improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of American men lifting major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four 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 felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend excessive effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only say how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {