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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if Fritz had beaten the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and powerful strength on each front side and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is often helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity 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 opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of significant, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won 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 pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not only say how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {