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I have a few opinions regarding that comments made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has seen the curious emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest 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 commenting on the continuing slump of US male players winning major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, his first serve sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite ironclad evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP aside from 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 shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {