🔗 Share this article

I possess a few opinions regarding that comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, he invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three competitors 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 last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

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

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive strength on each front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of American men winning major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed uncertain 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 well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly improbable for all other players. {