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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He said in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to beat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

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

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite delivery and concussive strength on both forehand and backhand are more than adequate to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {