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I possess some opinions regarding the remarks delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz during the US Open last eight. Look – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But really. Even if Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard proceeded to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually liked his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best competitors in the world back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to believe in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

The American star's weaker delivery the only thing between her and sustained success

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the global rankings starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he could take that spot for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite delivery and powerful power on each front side and reverse side are more than enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often overmatched. The past few years has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was dictating, and hitting a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a several significant, unexpected improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the top 10. The previous season, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the ongoing slump of US male players winning major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is just excessive and the respect for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only seemed uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending 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 immediately played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much effort to win it. Facing set points in the last game, his primary delivery floated to heaven. He prolonged the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, just a result of having to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The match was quite compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and never particularly appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, 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 drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only say his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to do it,” the American told a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. I hope he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {