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I possess a few opinions about the comments made by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player during the New York major last eight. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports often lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. A little bit of letdown would have been understandable. Instead, he invoked the continued absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star 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, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Djokovic in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and sustained success

The American, 28, is ranked fourth in the world starting this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a vast gap of ranking points away. Fritz’s top-class serve and concussive strength on each front side and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is frequently helpless. The last several years has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless cover the court with the surprising quickness and grace of much shorter men. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly surged up to No 4 – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of American men winning major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply excessive and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair appeared evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the run to the point of agony. When he finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the real battle and forced him to use far too much energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He prolonged the match twice on his backup delivery, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, just a result of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly ironclad proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any version of the Serbian, who lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly seem like he believed he could triumph. This is perfectly acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed enough knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is those who were anticipating Fritz to win, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, willing to not only express how he feels or the tactic he believed determined a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the blame for the United States failing to produce a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Now that Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {