<figure id="attachment_3259273" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3259273" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3259273 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/8e1cf1c6-13634377_cropped_1-1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3259273" class="wp-caption-text">Taylor Fritz said he looks forward to competing for a US$1 million prize pool at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
MELBOURNE: American Taylor Fritz said his knee was &#8220;definitely improving&#8221; after weeks of rehabilitation work, as the big-serving American prepares for his first-round match at the Australian Open on Sunday.
Fritz told Reuters the right knee injury that hampered him at this month&#8217;s United Cup had begun to trend in the right direction after a period focused on strengthening away from the court.
&#8220;As far as my knee goes, it&#8217;s been a lot of really good news lately,&#8221; Fritz said on a call from Melbourne.
&#8220;This is a thing that takes two to four months of just really solid rehab, a lot of exercise off the court to strengthen and then you start to see improvements,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not an injury where you rest and it just goes away,&#8221; Fritz added.
He added that after five weeks of the off-season and additional time on site in Melbourne, he was starting to feel the benefits.
&#8220;There&#8217;s some other stuff I&#8217;m dealing with, but as far as the knee goes, it&#8217;s definitely improving.&#8221;
Fritz went 1-3 in team competition at the United Cup and has slid to ninth seed at the Australian Open, where he takes on France&#8217;s Valentin Royer in the first round on Sunday.
Fritz pointed to his return game as a key area for improvement this season after leaning heavily on his huge serve last year.
After Australia, Fritz said he was looking forward to competing for a US$1 million prize pool at the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1.
The exhibition event will feature eight players featuring in a 10-point tiebreak knockout format at the T-Mobile Arena, home to the NHL&#8217;s Golden Knights and marquee boxing matches.
&#8220;We really wanted to do something in Vegas because there&#8217;s not that much tennis in Vegas nowadays,&#8221; he said
&#8220;It&#8217;s awesome to do an event there that&#8217;s fast-paced and exciting,&#8221; he said.
The event comes at a time when tennis is facing criticism over its relentless tour schedule, but Fritz said he benefits from a heavy workload.
&#8220;For me, as long as I&#8217;m healthy, I like to play,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I typically play my best tennis when I&#8217;ve had a lot of matches,&#8221; he added.

MatchPoint Times

Fritz upbeat on knee rehab as Melbourne first round looms

US player Taylor Fritz says his knee is definitely improving after weeks of rehabilitation.

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