Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Taylor Fritz’s United Cup captain gives injury update after loss to Sebastien Baez

Originally posted on HITC | By Max Kilham | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 11:01 AM ET

The 2026 ATP season hasn’t started the way Taylor Fritz would have hoped.

Going into his first match at the United Cup – a tournament he won in 2025 alongside Coco Gauff – Fritz mentioned he was already dealing with ‘pretty serious tendonitis’ in his knee.

The American, ranked sixth on the ATP Tour, then suffered a surprising loss to Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in his opener. Baez had struggled through much of 2025, going six months without back-to-back wins.

However, Fritz caught a break as Gauff won her singles match and then teamed up with Christian Harrison to secure the deciding win against Argentina.

Afterwards, American captain Michael Russell discussed how Fritz was holding up physically after his defeat to Baez.

Michael Russell gives update on Taylor Fritz’s knee after United Cup match

Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Russell would have been relieved to see his team fight back against Argentina, especially after they looked close to losing the tie early on.

But there will be growing concern over Taylor Fritz’s fitness, especially given how important he is to the squad.

After the match, Russell told reporters: “It’s a little sore, his knee. He’s coming off the off-season and was mostly focusing on recovery and rehab, but I mean, it’s part of the sport.

“You play three sets. It’s going to be physical. At the end of the day, then you just assess how you feel afterwards. We’ll see tomorrow.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready to go on Monday.”

If fit enough to play Spain in their final group stage fixture at the United Cup. If cleared, he’ll face world number 33 Jaume Munar – a key figure in Spain’s run to the Davis Cup final last year.

The two have met once before with Fritz winning a tight contest at Indian Wells in 2022 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.

Who steps in if Taylor Fritz can’t play?

Should Taylor Fritz be ruled out of his next appearance, it would be a big setback for the American team.

If that happens, the responsibility could fall to Mackenzie McDonald, currently ranked 114th in the world. The 30-year-old has been around the tour for over a decade, debuting at just 18 when he qualified for the 2013 Cincinnati Open.

Coco Gauff’s leadership could become even more crucial if Fritz isn’t available. The reigning champion brings valuable experience from last year’s title run.

She looked sharp in her first outing this year too, easing past Solana Sierra 6-1, 6-1. Up next for her is Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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