Taylor Fritz made it clear he will not be tuning in with any emotional investment when the 2026 Australian Open final rolls around. Asked during a livestream who he would be cheering for between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, the American offered a self-focused response, saying he was rooting for himself to have a good day and did not care who won.
A Closer Look at Taylor Fritz’s Physically Demanding Australian Open Campaign
Fritz’s comments came in the immediate aftermath of a physically taxing Australian Open campaign. Entering as the World No. 9, he kicked off his Melbourne campaign with a four-set win over Valentin Royer, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, before finding his stride in a dominant straight-sets victory against Vít Kopřiva( 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4)).
The defining match of his tournament, however, came in the third round against Swiss wildcard Stan Wawrinka. Fritz escaped with a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win after more than three hours on court, but the cost was evident. The extended battle aggravated lingering knee tendonitis and strained his oblique, injuries that visibly affected his movement as the tournament progressed.
By the time he reached the Round of 16, Fritz was clearly compromised and could not find a way past fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti, falling in straight sets. Soon after, he stepped away from competition to prioritize recovery ahead of the American hard-court swing.
What Did Fritz Reveal During His Livestream About the Upcoming Australian Open Final?
That same pragmatic outlook was on display during Fritz’s Twitch livestream, where he was spending downtime doing what fans have come to expect from the ATP Tour’s most recognizable gamer-athlete. Fritz regularly streams competitive League of Legends sessions, engaging directly with viewers.
When a fan asked which finalist he would support in a potential Alcaraz-Djokovic clash, Fritz did not hedge or play along with rivalry narratives. “I’m cheering for myself to have a great day. I don’t care who wins,” he said.
Fritz is set to return to action at the Dallas Open, scheduled for Feb. 9-15, marking his fourth appearance at the ATP 500 event. In his tournament debut in 2022, he advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to fellow American Marcos Giron.
He followed that up with a semifinal run the next year, where his campaign ended against Wu Yibing. At his most recent appearance in 2025, Fritz exited in the second round after a loss to Denis Shapovalov.
