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I possess a few thoughts regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued drought of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated 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. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. 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: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive strength on each forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in July.

The American's performance in that very last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to win it. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not only say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually highly improbable for all other players. {