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I have a few thoughts about the comments made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none 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 enjoy a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it presented the chance to beat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the world starting the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive strength on each front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of 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 grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected advancements 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 elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

The American's play in that very last eight match should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But the champion rescued break point 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 second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much effort to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He extended the match twice on his backup delivery, but finally committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, just a result of needing to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly seem like he thought he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost everyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {