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I have a few thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. Some disappointment was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: 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 tournament.

We all love a narrative, myself included. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world starting this week’s year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive power on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest 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 mentioning the continuing slump of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

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

The American's play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use far too much energy to prevail. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is actually extremely unlikely for everybody else. {