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I have a few opinions regarding that remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's win over Taylor Fritz in the US Open quarter-finals. Look – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment was appropriate. Rather, he brought up the ongoing absence of American men at the majors: not one of them had lifted a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if the American had beaten the legend for the initial occasion, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him Fritz had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven major titles (plus the Spaniard proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). Fritz said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact preferred his draw, because it presented the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is supposed to have faith in themselves. But entering that Djokovic quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the lack of US winners on the brain?

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

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked fourth in the global rankings entering the upcoming year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked 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 far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of ranking points away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful strength on each front side and backhand are more than adequate to defeat most opponents on the ATP tour. When facing the select few once-in-a-lifetime players, though, he is often helpless. The past few seasons has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering players who can nonetheless move around with the alarming speed and fluidity of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and appears that way. His footwork 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 playing a drop shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That acts as a quite severe limitation on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of dramatic, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months after, 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 legendary figures like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate mentioning the continuing slump of American men lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

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

The American's performance in that exact last eight match should have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American earning numerous chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic rescued break point after break point, extending the streak to the point of frustration. When he finally did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a terrible game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to use far too much effort to win it. Down match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It was not a choke, in my opinion, only a consequence of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was quite compelling evidence that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the following match and did not especially appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and may not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and strategic intelligence to make up for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to win, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not accomplished anything that indicated he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually everyone on the men's tour except for Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only say his emotions or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Group

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer 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 highly improbable for everybody else. {