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I possess some opinions regarding that comments made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the world in succession. He is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive power on both front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a number of significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive energy to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {