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I have some thoughts about that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently encourage nationalism. Some letdown would have been understandable. Instead, he brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at the majors: none of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past 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 previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in press after the loss that he actually liked his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering 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 weaker delivery the sole barrier standing in her way and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 the German with growing comfort. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that at present, that is as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on each front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the other player was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a pretty severe restriction on his upside.

Fritz has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements over the years. Early on of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing slump of American men lifting major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the challenge too little.

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

The American's play in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a terrible service game to drop serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, who lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never especially appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP except for the Russian star, willing to not just express how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Division

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

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of winning a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is in fact extremely improbable for all other players. {