ATP Tour
Fritz gives an injury update after the Australian Open exit
The American fell to Musetti in straight sets on Monday in Melbourne
January 26, 2026
Peter Staples
Taylor Fritz plays on Monday against Lorenzo Musetti in Melbourne.
By ATP staff
Taylor Fritz was in a philosophical mood after falling to the wrong end of the Grand Slam against Lorenzo Musetti on Monday afternoon at the Australian Open.
The American struggled to put a glove on his Top 10 opponent when the two met in the fourth round at Rod Laver Arena. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Fritz praised Musetti’s performance but also revealed that tendonitis in his knee, along with a recent oblique injury, hampered his title bid at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve been pretty good, I think, putting the knee stuff out all week,” Fritz said. “I was happy with the way I felt throughout the first two rounds, then I came in after the match with Stan. [Wawrinka] and it wasn’t fun, especially late in the game.
“Today I felt good from the start. I felt good in my warm-up this morning. When I went to do my pre-game stuff, like walking around and stuff before the game, I just told my body. I was like, ‘My knee doesn’t feel good’. I was hoping it would loosen up. I don’t think it got worse, but it was just the same.
With the win, No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings Musetti improved to 4-3 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Fritz, who played Monday’s clash with tape on both his right and left hamstrings.
“I just felt like I was hitting the ball well. “I don’t want to get rid of the debt either. He was playing very well, working well, not doing anything when I attacked very well. You played well.”
Fritz expressed confidence that the oblique injury will heal quickly during the rest period, while also stressing the need for patience in his knee recovery.
“My knee is still improving, as I said in the press after my first and second round, it will be a process,” said the 28-year-old player. “It was better, I’m still not 100 percent sure why I went back three or four days ago after two weeks of it, three weeks of constant improvement.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have had this, and they say I’ll be fully recovered at some point. Then I’ve recovered from the oblique thing before. It’s not too serious. My main focus is getting back to 100 percent health, hopefully it’s not too far away, and just being on top of everything so I can train and really get used to training.
Currently 4-4 on the 2026 season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Fritz is scheduled to compete at the Nexo Dallas Open, this year from February 9-15.
