Taylor Fritz ends bizarre winning streak Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells final | Tennis

The Spaniard, who won his 21st grand slam title at the Australian Open in January, was unbeaten for no fewer than twenty games in a row.

In the final, the 35-year-old former number one in the world did not seem completely fit. Although Nadal made a deep impression earlier in the tournament with resounding victories, many more mistakes crept into his game against 24-year-old Fritz. He had to leave the first set to the American: 3-6. But Fritz was not completely fit either.

In the second act, Nadal broke through his opponent’s serve first. But he couldn’t enjoy this for long. Fritz immediately broke back and tied it again in the second set.

Nadal got a number of breaking points again at 2-2, but Fritz came up with his best tennis at that moment and managed to drag the game out of the fire. It then went on for a long time, but when the score was 5-4 in favor of the American, he got his first game point on Nadal’s serve. The Spaniard managed to make it deuce again with a nice point and then drag the game out of the fire: 5-5.

A game later, it was Nadal who got breakpoints on Fritz’s serve. The Spaniard was unable to capitalize on this either, so he had to serve again to stay in the game. Nadal succeeded and a tiebreak had to bring the decision in the second set.

Fritz quickly ran out to a 3-1 lead. Nadal refused to throw in the towel, took three points in a row and suddenly looked at a lead. Fritz tied the score again, but then had to allow Nadal to steal a service point from him.

A miss by Nadal again tied the score in the tiebreak and with a score of 6-5 in favor of the American, Fritz got his second game point. Now it was a hit and with 6-3, 7-6 he ended Nadal’s winning streak.