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I have some thoughts regarding that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the world in succession. Fritz is well justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

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

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class serve and powerful power on both forehand and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter men. He is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America 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: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {