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I have a few opinions about the remarks made by the sports network commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued drought of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz said in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite delivery and powerful strength on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most opponents on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller men. He is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved break point after break point, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only say his emotions or the tactic he felt determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

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

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {