“It might be time to slow down”: Taylor Fritz hints at clay swing skip due to knee issue

Taylor Fritz heads into the Miami Open with more than just another Masters 1000 campaign on the line, as the American admitted his ongoing knee issue could soon force a significant decision in his season. The world No. 7 arrives as the sixth seed, but with lingering concerns around tendonitis in his right knee continuing to disrupt his rhythm.

The American’s latest appearance in Indian Wells ended earlier than expected, falling in straight sets to compatriot Alex Michelsen (4-6, 6-7). It marked a setback after a strong showing in Dallas just weeks earlier, where Fritz reached the ATP 500 final and reported no physical limitations.

That contrast has defined his recent stretch. While his level remains competitive, the inability to predict how his body will respond from one tournament to the next has become the central issue. Fritz himself acknowledged that the injury has been difficult to manage, with performance swings tied closely to how his knee reacts week to week.

Now in Miami, the second leg of the Sunshine Double takes on added importance. With a first-round bye, Fritz will open against either Denis Shapovalov or Botic van de Zandschulp, with a potential third-round clash against Jack Draper. But beyond the draw, the bigger question remains how his body holds up.

Fritz described the situation as a “day-to-day” challenge, pointing to the inconsistency that has prevented him from building momentum. He admitted that even within short periods, the condition can shift without a clear explanation, making it difficult to plan both matches and training.

His run in Dallas stands in sharp contrast to what followed. There, he moved freely and competed without restriction, showing the level he can reach when fully fit. But that progress did not carry over into Indian Wells, where he felt the issue return in the lead-up to the tournament.

“I’m still managing my knee. Some days it’s better than others, and I don’t know why exactly,” commented the American No. 1 before Miami Open. “In Dallas, for example, it felt amazing and it didn’t bother me at all the whole tournament. I felt like I was moving great. And then, in the lead-in to Indian Wells, it wasn’t. It felt like I almost regressed a little bit. Same thing happened in Australia [at the Australian Open], as well.”

Looking ahead, Fritz made it clear that Miami represents more than just another stop on the calendar. Internally, it has already been discussed as a potential decision point regarding how to approach the coming months, particularly with the clay season approaching.

Clay has historically been his least productive surface, and with fewer points to defend compared to hard courts and grass, it presents a natural window to step back if needed. Fritz acknowledged that this scenario is already under consideration if his condition does not improve. “This is kind of the cut-off,” the world No. 7 stated. “We said, after Miami if we’re not seeing big improvements, it might be time to just slow down a bit on the playing and get it healed 100 percent.”

“Because if there was a portion of the season that I think I’d be more OK missing, it would be the clay-court season, like I did last year. I think this week is going to be very telling for it. But, overall, it’s not bad.”

Back in 2025, Fritz missed almost a month of the clay swing — including the Monte Carlo Masters — although he still had enough time to compete in four tournaments (record 3-4), where he ultimately ended up falling in a surprise first-round loss at the French Open against Daniel Altmaier.