🔗 Share this article

I possess a few opinions about that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Look – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite delivery and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's play in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, more so than almost anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only express how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {