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I have a few thoughts about that remarks delivered by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over Taylor Fritz during the New York major quarter-finals. Look – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is American – and sports often lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown would have been appropriate. Instead, he invoked the continued 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, myself included. But come on. Suppose the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, phenomenal talent the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who Fritz has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And if he’d somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport in succession. He is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, 28, is ranked number four in the world entering the upcoming year-end championships and has secured his previous six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. It's likely he might take that spot for himself in the future. But evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class serve and powerful strength on each forehand 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, however, Fritz is often overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the other player was controlling, and hitting a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That serves as a quite severe restriction on his upside.

The American has achieved a number of dramatic, unexpected advancements throughout his career. Early on of the decade, he was circling the bottom of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded up to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, Sinner, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator 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 winning major titles when Fritz had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the difficulty of the task too little.

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

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt tenuous for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a couple championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning numerous opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately played a terrible game to drop serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Facing set points in the final game, his primary delivery floated to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his backup delivery, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The match was fairly compelling evidence that the American is not good enough to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were anticipating the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding virtually everyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not just express his emotions or the tactic he believed determined a match, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in the summer of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that goal, that breaking through Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominant, formidable reign is actually highly unlikely for all other players. {