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I possess a few opinions regarding that remarks made by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Look – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Rather, he brought up the continued drought of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the world back-to-back. He is well justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, twenty-eight, is placed fourth in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and powerful strength on both front side and backhand are more than enough to defeat most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has witnessed the interesting rise of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising speed and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could 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 slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact last eight match ought to have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and compelled him to use excessive effort to win it. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The match was quite compelling proof that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the responsibility for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t do it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying empire is actually highly improbable for everybody else. {