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I have some thoughts regarding that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued drought of American men at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the chance to beat the top three players in the world in succession. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive power on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, though, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of American men lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the rallies, with the American earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the final game, his first serve floated to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {