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I have a few thoughts regarding that remarks made by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he brought up the ongoing drought of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter men. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. 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 quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players winning major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the chances 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 battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {