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I possess some opinions regarding the comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is American – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Rather, he brought up the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his last six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful strength on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, he is often helpless. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a number of significant, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What could Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very last eight match should have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had saved a couple championship opportunities and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after break point, extending the streak to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to expend excessive energy to win it. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest two times on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {