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I have a few thoughts about that remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, he brought up the ongoing 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 last one standing in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on each forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently helpless. The past few seasons has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of significant, 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 approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of chances to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played 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 effort to win it. Facing match points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually highly improbable for all other players. {