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I have a few opinions regarding that comments made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite delivery and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, though, he is frequently overmatched. The past few years has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter players. He is six-foot-five and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing slump of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to win it. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express how he feels or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America not produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for everybody else. {