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I have a few thoughts about that comments made by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the continued drought of US male players at the majors: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d someway survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He stated in press following his defeat that he actually liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the world in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few years has seen the interesting emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a several significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

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

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never especially seem like he believed he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {