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I have some thoughts about the remarks delivered by ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the New York major quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently encourage patriotic sentiment. Some disappointment would have been appropriate. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: not one of them had lifted 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 really. Suppose Fritz defeated Djokovic for the initial occasion, phenomenal talent Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, whom Fritz has yet to beat in an competitive encounter. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also divided the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Serbian in the next round). Fritz stated in post-match interviews following his defeat that he actually preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best competitors in the sport in succession. Fritz is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of US winners in mind?

The American star's weaker delivery the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world entering this week’s year-end championships and has secured his last six encounters over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can rise: The Italian and Spaniard sit a vast gap of ranking points away. His top-class delivery and concussive strength on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to dispose of most rivals on the ATP tour. Against the select few generational talents, however, he is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming quickness and grace of smaller players. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his limbs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was dictating, and playing a drop shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a pretty severe restriction on his potential.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months later, he was sniffing the elite ten. The previous season, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and maintained the spot. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to defeat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing slump of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge too little.

Taylor Fritz made a career-best run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final ought to have been sufficient of an sign. Djokovic won in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The duo appeared evenly matched during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after break point, prolonging the streak to the point of frustration. When he eventually did convert a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a skirmish secondary to the main contest and forced him to use far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the last game, his primary delivery sailed to heaven. He extended the contest twice on his second serve, but ultimately double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, I didn’t think, just a result of needing to hit too many weaker deliveries.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the peak of his athletic abilities now, but has acquired enough knowledge and tactical know-how to compensate for quite a bit of the decline. The problem is the individuals who were expecting the American to prevail, and putting pressure on him to achieve that, when he was had not done anything that indicated he would.

The American is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, more so than almost everyone on the ATP aside from the Russian star, prepared to not only express his emotions or the strategy he felt determined a contest, but clarify it. That he should bear the brunt of the responsibility for America failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, perhaps they can share that load.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

Jimmy Connors Group

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

Swedish icon Group

• The Italian champion
• The German powerhouse
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely think about it indefinitely if I fail to do it,” the American told an interviewer in June of winning a grand slam. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {