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I have some thoughts regarding that comments made by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of American men at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the chance to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class serve and powerful strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, he is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing slump of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {