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I possess some thoughts about the comments delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy 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 had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. 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 climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on each front side and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness 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 seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a several significant, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a terrible service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was quite compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not just say how he feels or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America not produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {