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I have some opinions regarding the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, he is often helpless. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter 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 opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much energy to win it. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, 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 circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• 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)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {