American tennis star Taylor Fritz’s 2026 season opener at the United Cup was anything but ordinary, and not just because of the final scoreline. On January 3, 2026, Fritz, currently ranked World No. 6, faced off against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in a match that quickly became the talk of the tennis world—not for a dazzling comeback or a record-breaking performance, but for a controversial on-court gesture that sent social media into a frenzy.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Fritz taking the opening set 6-4 and appearing to be in full control. The tall Californian, standing at 6-foot-5, was a set and a break up in the second and looked poised to cruise to victory. But then, in a moment that would overshadow much of the tennis that followed, Fritz executed a perfectly timed lob over the 5-foot-7 Baez to break serve. As the crowd reacted, Fritz turned toward his camp and made the now-infamous “too small” gesture—a move borrowed from the NBA and usually reserved for moments of playful dominance.
The gesture, however, was anything but playful in the eyes of many. Fans quickly took to social media to voice their displeasure. One fan wrote, “A new low achieved. Especially after too small.” Another chimed in, “Taylor Fritz doing the too small celebration then losing the match. This bum.” The criticism kept coming: “Fritz lobbed him pretty bad (Baez swung and missed the smash) and was a break up in the second, then said audibly to his camp ‘he’s too short for the lob’ … Baez heard I guess and locked the f*** in,” a user commented, capturing the shift in momentum that would soon follow. Another summed up the prevailing sentiment: “Fritz did the ‘too small’ gesture to taunt Baez after lobbing his. Proceeds to lose to him. Karma.”
From that moment, the match dynamic changed. Baez, spurred on by the perceived slight, mounted a determined comeback. The Argentine bench, sensing the shift, rallied around their player, with their captain reportedly encouraging him, “Go ahead and face this skinny guy who calls you small.” Baez responded in kind, taking the second set 7-5 and ultimately clinching the decider 6-4. It was Baez’s first-ever victory over Fritz—a result that stung even more given the context.
Yet, the drama didn’t end there. Fritz’s on-court actions became the subject of heated debate among fans and pundits alike. The “too small” gesture, while a staple of NBA bravado, seemed out of place in tennis’s more restrained culture. Many saw it as premature and disrespectful, especially since Fritz was unable to close out the match. The American’s comment to his camp—“he’s too short for the lob”—only added fuel to the fire. As one fan quipped, “I hope Báez does the ‘too small’ gesture after shaking hands.”
But there was more to Fritz’s struggles than just a questionable celebration. The American has been battling a persistent knee injury, specifically tendinopathy, that has hampered his preparation for the new season. In a candid post-match interview, Fritz shed light on the challenge he’s facing: “I mean, I really just need to be playing points and be healthy. I think that’s the biggest thing,” he told reporters. “I spent the majority — pretty much the entirety of the off-season trying to rehab my knee tendinopathy, but that’s a thing that takes months and months to get better. You know, I didn’t get to play a lot of points because I’m trying to not push it too hard. So it’s just going to be a struggle of trying to get the reps in and get the points and matches in to start feeling like I’m comfortable while juggling that while still managing my knee pain because I’m going to try to play through and keep doing the rehab while traveling and getting better, but if that doesn’t work in a couple of months, then I am just going to have to full stop and fix it.”
Fritz’s injury woes have not gone unnoticed by the tennis community. Rennae Stubbs, a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion and respected analyst, weighed in on what she sees as a crucial area for improvement in Fritz’s game. Reacting to a key point from the match against Baez, Stubbs wrote, “Been saying for years on my pod, if Taylor got more comfortable at the net he would win more! This point illustrates why not being comfortable there loses him matches! NO CHANCE you lose this point if you can volley well.” Her assessment highlights a technical gap that may be holding Fritz back from breaking through at the very highest level—despite his run to the US Open final in 2024, where he finished runner-up to Jannik Sinner.
While Fritz’s individual result was disappointing, the United States team managed to salvage the tie thanks to the heroics of Coco Gauff. Gauff, who has emerged as a true leader for Team USA, won both her singles match and the decisive doubles alongside Christian Harrison, ensuring that the Americans stayed alive in the competition. Their efforts set up a high-stakes final group-stage clash against Spain, with the winner advancing to the next round of the United Cup. Fritz is expected to face Jaume Munar in the singles, a player he has defeated in their only previous meeting, while Gauff is likely to take on Sara Sorribes Tormo.
The United Cup, a relatively new addition to the tennis calendar, has quickly become a proving ground for national pride and player form ahead of the Australian Open. For Fritz, the pressure is mounting—not just to perform for his country, but to prove that his knee can hold up to the rigors of elite competition and that he can put the controversy behind him. The American has just one day to regroup before the decisive tie against Spain, and all eyes will be on how he responds, both in terms of his play and his on-court demeanor.
As the dust settles from a dramatic opener, one thing is certain: Taylor Fritz’s 2026 campaign has already delivered plenty of talking points. Whether he can turn the page and focus on the tennis remains to be seen, but with the United States still in the hunt and the Australian Open looming, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The tennis world will be watching closely as Fritz and his teammates prepare for their date with destiny against Spain, knowing that redemption—or further drama—could be just around the corner.
