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I have a few opinions regarding that comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's win over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He stated in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several significant, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

The American's play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When he finally did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend far too much effort to win it. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak 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 win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just say how he feels or the tactic he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable empire is actually highly unlikely for everybody else. {