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I have a few thoughts about that comments made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. 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 divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite delivery and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious emergence of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing drought of US male players winning grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star made a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

The American's play in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a terrible service game to drop serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite ironclad evidence that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just express how he feels or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {