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I possess a few opinions about the remarks delivered by the sports network broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the New York major quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of US male players at the majors: none of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming 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 Jannik Sinner, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the next round). He said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it offered the chance to beat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of American champions on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked fourth in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that is as far as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite serve and concussive strength on each front side and backhand are more than enough to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several years has seen the curious emergence of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was controlling, and playing a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his upside.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, 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 worth mentioning the continuing slump of American men winning grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in July.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to break. But the champion saved break point after break point, extending the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to expend excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough 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 absolutely fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to done anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {