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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he invoked the ongoing drought of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the previous seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to thrash a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and powerful power on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the curious emergence of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a several significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of American men winning major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of chances to break. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not especially seem like he believed he could win. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not only express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Group

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {