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I have some opinions about that comments delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. Some letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he brought up the ongoing 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 competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But really. Suppose Fritz had beaten the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard went on to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. Fritz is well within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and sustained success

Fritz, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The last several seasons has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and fluidity of smaller men. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has made a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was hovering around the bottom of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat 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 exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink 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; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, just a consequence of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

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

“I’d probably think about it forever if I fail to do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {