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I possess a few opinions about the comments delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued absence 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 tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite delivery and concussive power on both forehand and backhand are more than enough to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players winning grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

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

The American's performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he finally did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America not spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {