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I have a few opinions regarding that comments made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents American, Fowler is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he invoked the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match who else 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

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and concussive power on both front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is often overmatched. The last several seasons has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a personal best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the rallies, with the American earning numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, his first serve floated to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {