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I possess a few thoughts about that remarks made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer following the Serbian champion's victory over the American player in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, the commentator is American – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been understandable. Instead, he brought up the ongoing drought of American men at the majors: not one of them has won a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and Fritz had been the last one standing in the competition.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But really. Suppose Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the next round, whom he has never defeated in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder the Italian, against whom the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz stated in press following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to beat the three best competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is more than justified to aim for the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person in their right mind had the drought of US winners on the brain?

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

The American, 28, is placed fourth in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has won his last six matches over No 3 Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. Presumably he could claim that position for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that at present, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite delivery and concussive strength on both front side and backhand are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of once-in-a-lifetime players, however, he is often helpless. The past few seasons has seen the interesting emergence of lanky, towering players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is typically a safe bet. That serves as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

The American has made a number of dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. At the beginning of the decade, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to fourth place – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task too little.

The American star achieved a personal best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four rounds, a win that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the exchanges, with the American creating numerous opportunities to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert one of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to expend far too much energy to win it. Down match points in the last game, his first serve floated to heaven. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a result of needing to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any form of Djokovic, who was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers now, but has acquired enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not done anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the circuit regardless. He’s a calm, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than virtually everyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express his emotions or the tactic he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist feels unjust. (Now that Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz informed a journalist in June of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact highly unlikely for everybody else. {