Taylor Fritz Opens Up About Persistent Serving Pain Since October
Taylor Fritz secured his place in the second round of the Paris Masters by defeating Benjamin Bonzi. Fritz appeared to struggle early, falling behind 3-6 in the first set and calling a medical timeout.
The American bounced back impressively, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. After the match, Fritz revealed that an ongoing issue has been affecting his serve since October.
Injury Troubles Dating Back to Lyon Open
Fritz shared that the discomfort began during the Lyon Open in late October, where he reached the final but lost to Lorenzo Musetti. He described the pain as sharp and sometimes triggered when hitting specific serves or fully extending his elbow.
"It has been something I have been feeling since Lyon actually. Sometimes when I am hitting cutter serves, it happens on the T on the ad side. Sometimes when I snap my elbow it hurts in the back when I fully straighten it," Fritz told Tennis Channel.
He felt the pain early in the match against Bonzi but hoped it would ease with warming up, which is why he delayed calling for treatment. He admitted that the sharp pain sometimes makes him afraid to serve.
Other Physical Challenges This Year
This is not Fritz's only physical setback in 2026. He has battled chronic knee tendonitis since the 2025 offseason, which forced him to miss much of the clay-court season.
Despite the setbacks, Fritz focused on his strategy and adjustments during the Paris match rather than the injury.
"I thought I would attack his forehand, but he was dominating me with it. I told myself I needed to serve well enough not to get broken," Fritz said. "I started serving more sliders because he was leaning on my flat serve. I planned to keep doing it until he showed he could cover it."
Fritz’s Road Ahead at the Paris Masters
- Round 1: defeated Benjamin Bonzi
- Round 2: faces Alex Molcan
- Round 3: likely Arthur Fils
- Quarterfinals: Carlos Alcaraz
- Semi-finals: Daniil Medvedev
- Final: Alexander Zverev
Fritz will meet qualifier Alex Molcan next, whom he previously beat in straight sets at Wimbledon 2022.
Thoughts on Coaching Changes Among Peers
Fritz also commented on recent coaching moves by fellow players Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner. Shelton hired Juan Carlos Ferrero, formerly coach to Carlos Alcaraz, while Sinner replaced Darren Cahill with Magnus Norman.
"I didn’t have much of a reaction, to be honest. A little surprised. But that’s their thing and we’ll see how it works out. I didn’t really put too much thought into it," Fritz said.
