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I have a few thoughts about that remarks made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Instead, he brought up the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful strength on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several seasons has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a soft shot against him is typically a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even 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 worth commenting on the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in the summer.

The American's play in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of agony. When he finally did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use far too much energy to prevail. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {