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I possess a few thoughts regarding the remarks delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he someway survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed fourth in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful power on both front side and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. 24 months after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to break. But the champion saved break point after break point, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and never especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate 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 indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually highly improbable for all other players. {