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I have some opinions regarding the comments delivered by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and sports often encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he brought up the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on each forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much energy to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

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

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {