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I have some opinions regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of performance metrics 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 handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run 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 game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, that lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not only say how he feels 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 seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {