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I have some thoughts about the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the US Open last eight. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive power on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning major titles when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star made a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not only say how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {