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I have some opinions about that comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Look – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, whom 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 Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually liked his draw, because it offered the chance to beat the top three players in the world back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the drought of American champions on the brain?

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

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite serve and powerful strength on both forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star made a career-best advancement to the All England Club last four in July.

The American's performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of frustration. When he eventually did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only say his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely unlikely for everybody else. {