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I have some thoughts regarding the comments made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after 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 athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the world in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class serve and powerful power on both front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, Fritz 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 players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a several significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was quite ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only say how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in June of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {