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I possess some thoughts about the comments delivered by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler following Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Look – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is American – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was understandable. Rather, Fowler brought up the continued drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the competition.

We all love a narrative, me too. But come on. Suppose the American defeated Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the following match, who he has yet to beat in an official match. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had dropped 10 of the previous eleven sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven major titles (plus Alcaraz proceeded to defeat a tired Serbian in the subsequent match). He said in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the chance to defeat the three best players in the sport back-to-back. He is more than within his right to aspire to the accomplishment; an athlete is supposed to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian quarter-final what other person sensibly had the drought of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the sole barrier between her and consistent victories

The American, 28, is placed number four in the world starting 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 evidently that right now, that’s as far as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz sit a chasm of ranking points away. His top-class serve and concussive strength on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently enough to dispose of the majority of rivals on the ATP tour. When facing the select few generational talents, though, he is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of smaller players. Fritz is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is stiff, as if he’s still getting used to his legs. So he’ll rarely win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite severe limitation on his upside.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable advancements throughout his career. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. Two years later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly exploded to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the subsequent step, mixing it up with and defeating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a aging Djokovic, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was appropriate commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The desperation is simply excessive and the appreciation for the difficulty of the task insufficient.

The American star made a career-best run to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

The American's performance in that exact quarter-final ought to have been enough of an indication. Djokovic won in four rounds, a win that only felt tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a couple match points and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But Djokovic saved service break opportunity after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the brink of frustration. When Fritz eventually did claim one of the chances at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly produced a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle secondary to the main contest and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Down set points in the final game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to heaven. He extended the match two times on his second serve, but finally committed two errors. It was not a collapse, in my opinion, only a result of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The match was fairly ironclad proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of Djokovic, that lost to the Spaniard in the following match and never particularly appeared like he thought he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the height of his athletic abilities now, but has developed sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for a significant portion 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 yet to done anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than virtually anyone on the ATP aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not just express how he feels or the tactic he felt decided a contest, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unfair. (Now that the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, perhaps they can share that load.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

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

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• The Canadian talent

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American told an interviewer in the summer of claiming a major. It is hoped he realizes that he’s not unsuccessful if he does not achieve that objective, that breaking through the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying empire is actually extremely unlikely for everybody else. {