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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the chance 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 have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive power on both front side and backhand are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of smaller men. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of US male players winning grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

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

The American's play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to use far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only say his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {