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I possess a few thoughts about the comments made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over the American player in the New York major last eight. Consider – Fritz is the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the continued drought of US male players at the majors: not one of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and the Spaniard went on to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the three best players in the world in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions in mind?

The American star's second serve the sole barrier standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, 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 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite delivery and concussive power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat most rivals on the professional circuit. Against the select few generational talents, though, Fritz is often overmatched. The past few seasons has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a drop shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has achieved a several significant, improbable improvements throughout his career. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to fourth place – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the streak to the brink of agony. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a horrendous game to drop serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend excessive effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, that was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially seem like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough knowledge and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is the individuals who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in media sessions, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, willing to not just say how he feels or the strategy he believed determined a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely think about it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {