Uncertainty Looms Over Taylor Fritz’s Australian Open Participation Due to Knee Injury: “I Have to Fix It”
World No.6 Taylor Fritz has never reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.
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Taylor Fritz (Image via X/Jose Morgado)
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Taylor Fritz had an impressive 2025 season that saw him win two grass-court titles, including his fourth win at the Eastbourne International, and qualify for the ATP Finals. When the off-season started, Fritz’s focus shifted to nursing his knee injury.
Despite the inflammation, the American signed up to represent Team USA in the United Cup but suffered an unexpected defeat to Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, who registered his career’s second top 10 win. Uncertainty now looms over Fritz’s Australian Open participation.
I mean, I really just need to be playing points and be healthy. I think that’s the biggest thing. I spent the majority- pretty much the entirety of the off-season trying to rehab my knee tendinopathy, but that’s a thing that takes months and months to get better.
Taylor Fritz said during the press conference
Coco Gauff was the USA’s savior as she earned her team their first point by defeating Solana Sierra and joined Christian Harrison in the mixed doubles, beating the pair of Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi. The United States is now 1-0 in Group A and will lock horns with Spain next.
You know, I didn’t get to play a lot of points because I’m trying not to push it too hard. So it’s just going to be a struggle of trying to get the reps in and get the points and matches in to start feeling like I’m comfortable while juggling that while still managing my knee pain because I’m going to try in a couple of months, then I am just going to have to full stop and fix it.
Taylor Fritz added
Team USA is playing as the defending champion. Last year, they went past Poland in the title clash. Argentina defeated Spain 3-0. In the group-stage match against Spain, Fritz will take on Jaume Munar, while Gauff will square off against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. In mixed doubles, the pair of Gauff and Harrison will clash with Maneiro and Munar.
Last year, apart from the Eastbourne International and the Stuttgart Open, the 27-year-old also reached the final of the Japan Open, only to lose the match to Carlos Alcaraz. He finished the season with a 53-23 win-loss record and in the sixth spot on the rankings table.
Taylor Fritz on his match against Sebastian Baez
Sebastian Baez registered his first win over Taylor Fritz after five consecutive defeats. At the press conference after the defeat, Fritz dissected his performance.
It’s not the way I want to start off the year. There’s definitely a lot of rust showing. I feel like he raised his level, especially in the third set, but also at times in the second set. I think the first set, just from both of us, wasn’t a super high level. You know, both of us making a lot of errors. Ultimately, in the end, in the first set, I won it because I put balls in the court, and he made mistakes. He started mentally cutting down on the mistakes, being very steady, but also dictating and being able to attack.
The Australian Open will start on January 18, and Fritz will be bidding to reach the semifinals. He was the quarterfinalist in 2024, while last year, his campaign ended in the third round.
Last year, Fritz made just one Grand Slam semifinal. He reached the last four of Wimbledon, losing the match in four sets to eventual runner-up Carlos Alcaraz. The former World No.4 produced his best Grand Slam performance when he reached the final of the 2024 US Open, losing that match in straight sets to Jannik Sinner.
Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Shares Sympathy for Good Friend Paula Badosa on her Constant Battles with Injuries
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