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I have a few thoughts regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, he brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love 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 never defeated in an official match. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and backhand are more than enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a number of significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler have been 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 American men lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much energy to prevail. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {