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I have a few thoughts regarding the remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the continued absence 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 tournament.

Everyone enjoy 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 following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith 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?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on both front side and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has seen the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing slump of American men lifting grand slams when he had departed 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 personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he 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 again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {