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I possess some opinions about that remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued drought of American men at the majors: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match 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 world starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a terrible game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that the fellow American 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)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American told an interviewer in June of winning a major. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {