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I have some thoughts regarding that remarks 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. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, he brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had lost 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 next round). He stated in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive power on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the top 10. 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 the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing slump of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the match two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, only a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he believed decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {