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I have a few thoughts about that comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive power on each front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, he is often helpless. The past few seasons has seen the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive energy to prevail. Down set points in the final game, his first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {