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I possess some opinions about the comments made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature 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 defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a number of significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of American men winning major titles when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for brief periods 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 numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to prevail. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

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

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {