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I possess a few thoughts about the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the New York major last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment was understandable. Rather, he invoked the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive strength on both front side and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

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

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When he eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain 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 unfair. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely unlikely for everybody else. {