🔗 Share this article

I have some opinions about the remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, myself included. But really. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite delivery and powerful strength on both front side and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, however, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could 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 drought of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the difficulty of the task too little.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American earning numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Down set points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

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

Swedish icon Division

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

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly improbable for all other players. {