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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. Some letdown would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who 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 the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing drought of US male players winning major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {