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I possess a few thoughts regarding that comments made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the continued absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and backhand are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

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

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match 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 survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in press conferences, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

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

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in June of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually extremely unlikely for everybody else. {