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I possess some thoughts regarding the remarks delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and athletic competitions often encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment was appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted a trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

Everyone love a storyline, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the previous seven grand slams (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press after the loss that he actually preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are more than adequate to dispose of the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller men. Fritz 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 other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe limitation on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a several dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly exploded to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

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

The American's play in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive energy to prevail. Facing match points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and did not especially seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, 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 expecting Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not just say his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

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

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to do it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely unlikely for all other players. {