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I have some opinions about that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, myself included. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought 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 world entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on both front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

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 accomplish it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {