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I have some thoughts regarding the comments made by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after Novak Djokovic's victory over the American player in the New York major last eight. Consider – the athlete represents American, Fowler is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. Instead, Fowler brought up the continued drought of US male players at the majors: none 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 enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if Fritz had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was looming in the next round, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a tired Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in press after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it presented the opportunity to beat the top three players in the sport in succession. He is more than within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else sensibly had the lack of US winners on the brain?

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

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings entering this week’s year-end championships and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with growing comfort. It's likely he could take that spot for himself in the coming years. But it’s clear that right now, that is as high as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on both forehand and backhand are sufficiently enough to dispose of most opponents on the professional circuit. When facing the select few generational talents, however, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has seen the interesting rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless move around with the surprising quickness and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is rigid, 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 soft shot versus him is usually a reliable tactic. That serves as a pretty harsh restriction on his upside.

Fritz has made a several dramatic, unexpected advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was sniffing the top 10. Last year, he suddenly surged up to No 4 – and held the position. But the next leap, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Serbian, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That Fritz, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the ongoing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

Taylor Fritz achieved a career-best advancement to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s play in that very quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a win that only seemed tenuous for moments 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 rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But the champion saved break point after break point, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did claim one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve once more; Djokovic had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and forced him to use excessive effort to win it. Facing set points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve sailed to heaven. He extended the match twice on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling evidence that the American is insufficiently skilled to beat any form of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the next round and did not particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his physical powers now, but has developed sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The issue is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost anyone on the men's tour aside from the Russian star, willing to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to bear the brunt of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a male major champion since the last American titlist feels unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that load.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Division

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I fail to accomplish it,” Fritz told a journalist in the summer of winning a major. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly improbable for everybody else. {