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I possess some opinions about that comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on both front side 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, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, improbable improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion rescued break point after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing match points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for everybody else. {