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I possess a few thoughts regarding that comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Instead, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past 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 (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

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

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably 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 lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive power on each forehand and backhand are more than adequate to defeat most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, improbable improvements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing slump of US male players lifting grand slams when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four rounds, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after break point, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When he eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive effort to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {