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I possess a few opinions about that comments made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

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

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful strength on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. 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 controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players winning 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 challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only say his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever 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 a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {