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I have some thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the lack of US winners on the brain?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite serve and powerful power on each forehand and backhand are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used 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 acts as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

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

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, his first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has developed enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not only express his emotions or the tactic he believed decided a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {