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I possess a few thoughts regarding that remarks delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. Some disappointment was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the competition.

Everyone enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, who he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to defeat the top three competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to believe in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that at present, that’s as high as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His elite delivery and concussive power on both front side and reverse side are more than adequate to defeat most rivals on the professional circuit. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, however, Fritz is often helpless. The past few years has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the alarming quickness and grace of much shorter players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a quite harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of significant, unexpected improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the ongoing drought of American men lifting grand slams when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

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

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the rallies, with the American earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve once more; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, who lost to Alcaraz in the following match and did not especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely fine – the Serbian is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and strategic intelligence to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an asset to the circuit nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the ATP except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he believed decided a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States 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 burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” Fritz informed a journalist in the summer of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not fulfill that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {