🔗 Share this article

I possess some thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point 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 potential.

The American has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

The American star made a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to win it. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled 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 fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {