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I possess some thoughts regarding that comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the world in succession. He is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful power on both forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, unexpected advancements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator 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 American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive energy to prevail. Down set points in the last game, his first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {