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I possess some thoughts about that comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a terrible service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, prepared to not only say how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {