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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks made by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, the commentator 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 grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, me too. But come on. Suppose Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven major titles (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing between her and sustained success

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his last six matches over No 3 the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few years has witnessed the interesting emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat 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 New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's play in that exact 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 the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible service game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It was not a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially seem like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic 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 make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating the American to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States not produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

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

Swedish icon Division

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

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for everybody else. {