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I possess a few thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, he brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly surged up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing slump of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star made a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to win it. Down set points in the last game, his first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not only express how he feels or the strategy he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {