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I possess a few opinions regarding that remarks made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is American, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Instead, he invoked the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, myself included. But really. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

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

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's play in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous opportunities to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much energy to prevail. Down match points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than virtually everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for everybody else. {