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I have some opinions regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful strength on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a several significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his first serve floated to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially seem like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for the United States not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {