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I possess some thoughts about that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's win over the American player during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued drought 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 last one standing in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated the legend for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class serve and concussive power on both forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded to fourth place – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of agony. When he finally did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the final game, his first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• 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’d probably think about it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {