Injury scare puts Taylor Fritz's Australian Open participation in jeopardy

Anirudh, an engineer by training, has been contributing to Khel Now since 2024. He loves crafting inspiring stories.

Published at :January 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM

Modified at :January 4, 2026 at 2:36 AM

Injury scare puts Taylor Fritz's Australian Open participation in jeopardy

(Courtesy : @taylor_fritz/Instagram)

Fritz was left stunned by Baez in his opening match at the United Cup 2026.

The Australian Open 2026 is less than two weeks away, and Taylor Fritz has suffered a massive setback at the start of the 2026 season. The American would have been looking at this year with a lot of hope and promise, potentially even dreaming of finally winning his first Grand Slam title.

There is no secret that fritz loves to play on hard courts, and would be eager to find some success at the Melbourne Park. However, those plans have suffered a jolt, following a worrying injury flare-up during the United Cup in Perth.

The American suffered a shock three-set defeat (4-6, 7-5, 6-4) to Argentina’s Sebastian Baez on January 3, a player he had previously dominated in all five encounters. In frustration, Fritz smashed his racket, and he was later withdrawn from the deciding mixed doubles rubber to protect his knee.

Fritz has been battling serious tendonitis in his knee, an issue that lingered from late 2025 and dominated his off-season. Instead of technical improvements, he focused entirely on rehab and strengthening.

“I still have pretty serious tendonitis, and that’s something that takes a really long time to get rid of,” Fritz admitted ahead of the tournament. He plans to play through the pain initially, continuing rehab while competing, but warned that a prolonged break could result in a “full stop for four months,” as it could worsen in the coming months.

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A post shared by Taylor Fritz (@taylor_fritz)

The hard courts of Melbourne, starting January 14, could exacerbate the condition, raising concerns about his ability to compete at full capacity.

Leading Team USA alongside Coco Gauff in their title defense, Fritz’s rusty performance and visible discomfort signal a challenging start to 2026. Gauff helped America level terms in their tie, beating Solana Sierra comfortably.

World No. 114 Mackie McDonald is likely to be Fritz’s replacement, for the remaining ties, if he withdraws from the competition.

What injury is Taylor Fritz dealing with?

Fritz is struggling with serious tendonitis in his knee, an ongoing issue from late 2025 that required extensive rehab during the off-season.

Why did Taylor Fritz withdraw from mixed doubles at United Cup?

He was pulled from the deciding rubber against Argentina to avoid aggravating his knee injury after his singles loss.

Who is likely to replace Taylor Fritz for the remainder of the competition?

Mackie McDonald (World No. 114) is likely to replace him if he withdraws fully.

Will Taylor Fritz participate at Australian Open 2026?

With the Australian Open is still two weeks away, Frtitz will have plenty time to recover from the tendonitis issue he is currently suffering from. However, the USA star plans to continue playing in the United Cup instead of focusing on full recovery.

Aniruddh Seshadri

Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.