Fritz, on the calendar: "Maybe four weeks may not be enough to fully recover"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 20 Jan 2026 | 12.40

Fritz, about the schedule: "Perhaps four weeks may not be enough to fully recover." Photo: Getty

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Taylor Fritz passed his debut at the 2026 Australian Open with flying colors, although not all the news is too positive for the American player. The world number 6 defeated Valentin Royer in four sets in his opening match in Melbourne.

Moments later, during a press conference, the American could not hold back and expressed his doubts about the calendar and the issue of injuries. Taylor arrived in Australia with significant knee discomfort, and although he has been able to play without dwelling too much on these issues, he knows it won't be easy.

Taylor Fritz and the importance of the calendar

"If you look at the circuit, it's not just me; there are many people starting the year with injuries. Maybe the season is too long, I don't know. Maybe four weeks are not enough to fully recover. That's how it is. I laid many foundations during the preseason to recover, but at the same time, the preseason is so short that you need to train hard, or else you start the year feeling like you haven't played enough matches or haven't had enough time on the court, which is very similar to how I feel.

I'm very happy with those last two sets because I really felt like myself on the court in those last two sets of that match, just with how I'm processing it, how my mind is working. I felt great, so that's good, at least. You have to be healthy to train; otherwise, you will be in a bad situation to start the season. It's not the best situation," Taylor Fritz explained during the press conference.

Taylor Fritz's nightmare with injuries

"I have noticed significant improvements in my knee. That was the goal, to start feeling it after a little over two months with this tendon strengthening program, but well, I am much better than I expected after how I felt during the first week in Australia. I did not expect to be able to play with the physical demand and the length of today's match and not feel my knee as bad right now. It's very promising.

Unfortunately, other injuries arose this week while I was preparing, which is a shame. I don't want to go into details; maybe I'll talk about it after the tournament, but I just have to feel it as I go because it's something I have dealt with before, so, well, I am familiar with it."

Taylor Fritz's debut at the 2026 Australian Open

"The first set was crazy, I won it. Normally, if my serve is broken twice, I feel that many times I don't even bother trying to win the set. It's as if I've lost it. I played two very good games from the return to break his serve. I gave myself the chance to try to break his serve in that set, and I did it.

Then I didn't overthink what I should do while hitting, as in the first two sets. I just felt very calm and confident. I really felt like myself in the last two sets."