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I have a few thoughts regarding that comments made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and sports often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment was understandable. Rather, he brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven grand slams (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). He said in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not particularly seem like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only say his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {