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I have a few opinions about that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence 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 competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, whom he has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the subsequent match). He said in press after the loss that he actually preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world back-to-back. Fritz is more than within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to believe in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

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

The American, 28, is ranked fourth in the world entering this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six encounters over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite serve and concussive power on each front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the interesting rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter men. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty severe limitation on his potential.

The American has made a several dramatic, improbable improvements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the bottom of the top 30. Two years later, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and even a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of American men winning grand slams when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple match points and had a opportunity to hold for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a terrible service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle secondary to the real battle and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Down match points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He prolonged the match twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to Alcaraz in the next round and never especially appeared like he thought he could win. This is perfectly fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to compensate for a significant portion of the decline. The problem is those who were expecting the American to prevail, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective voice in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the strategy he believed decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Division

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

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” Fritz told a journalist in June of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming Alcaraz and Sinner’s young, terrifying reign is actually extremely unlikely for all other players. {