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I possess a few opinions regarding the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following 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 frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked 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: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive strength on both forehand and backhand are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest 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 worth commenting on the ongoing slump of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous opportunities to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When he eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps 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)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {