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I have a few opinions about that comments made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway 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 last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive power on both forehand and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged up to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a aging Serbian, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing slump of American men winning major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star made a personal best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately played a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, his first serve floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, that lost to Alcaraz in the following match and never especially appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

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

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly improbable for all other players. {