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I have some thoughts about the comments made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: none of them has won a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past 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 divided the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the three best players in the world in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. He is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of significant, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a personal best advancement to the All England Club last four in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was fairly compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express how he feels or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {