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I have a few thoughts regarding the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). He said in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked fourth in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful power on both forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of US male players winning major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of frustration. When Fritz finally did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {