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I possess some thoughts regarding the comments made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, me too. But really. Suppose the American had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller men. 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 other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

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

The American's performance in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {