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I have some opinions regarding the comments made by ESPN commentator a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is American – and sports often encourage nationalism. A little bit of disappointment would have been appropriate. 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 love a storyline, myself included. But come on. Even if Fritz defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the next round, who he has never defeated in an official match. And had he somehow gotten past that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, versus him Fritz had dropped 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). Fritz said in post-match interviews following his defeat that he in fact liked his draw, because it offered the opportunity to beat the top three competitors in the sport back-to-back. He is well within his right to aim for the accomplishment; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic quarter-final who else sensibly had the lack of American champions in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is placed number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his last six matches over third-ranked Alexander Zverev with increasing ease. Presumably he might take that spot for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as high as he can climb: The Italian and Spaniard lie a chasm of performance metrics away. His elite delivery and powerful strength on each forehand and reverse side are more than enough to defeat most opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently helpless. The past few years has witnessed the curious rise of lanky, towering athletes who can nonetheless move around with the surprising quickness and grace of smaller men. He is 6ft 5ins and looks it. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his limbs. So he seldom win a rally that the opponent was controlling, and playing a soft shot against him is usually a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh restriction on his potential.

Fritz has made a number of significant, unexpected advancements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to No 4 – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and defeating all-time-greats like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and even a aging Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was the commentator have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the continuing drought of American men lifting grand slams when he had exited the US Open in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the task insufficient.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

The American's performance in that very quarter-final should have been sufficient of an indication. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, a victory that only felt uncertain for brief periods towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a couple match points and had a chance to hold for 5-5. The pair looked well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz creating plenty of chances to break. But Djokovic rescued service break opportunity after service break opportunity, extending the streak to the brink of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the middle stanza, he promptly played a terrible service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had lulled him into a skirmish peripheral to the main contest and compelled him to use far too much effort to win it. Facing match points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated 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 consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling evidence that Fritz is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and never especially appeared like he believed he could triumph. This is absolutely fine – Djokovic is the greatest of all time, and might not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has developed enough experience and strategic intelligence to make up for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is the individuals who were expecting Fritz to win, and pressuring him to achieve that, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

The American is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in media sessions, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just express his emotions or the strategy he believed decided a contest, but explain it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the blame for America not produce a male major champion since the last American titlist seems unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can divide that burden.)

ATP Finals: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• The Italian stylist

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I don’t accomplish it,” the American told a journalist in the summer of winning a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not a failure if he doesn’t achieve that objective, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's young, terrifying reign is in fact extremely improbable for everybody else. {