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I possess a few thoughts regarding the comments delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian 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 beat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. 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 sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive power on each front side and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the point of agony. When he finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive effort to win it. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

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

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of winning 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 empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {