Sinner beats Fritz 2-1 and is in the semifinals at Indian Wells

The Californian dream continues for Jannik Sinner who still surpasses a top 5 and eliminates the reigning Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz 6-4 4-6-4. An ordeal, because after a perfect first set, the Italian number 1 gave way allowing the home boy to hook him up with a break in the ninth game of the second set and take him to the third where it was a battle of nerves. Sinner managed to grab the match with an exceptional physical and mental performance, overcoming a moment of crisis in the middle of the third and going to take his place in the semifinals with all the determination in the world. In the semifinals, the Italian number 1, already virtually 11 in the world, could find Carlos Alcaraz, who plays against Felix Aliassime.

The match

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Taylor wants to go on the attack. He wins the toss and chooses to serve. However, Jannik has the answer on his side, he is in charge and immediately breaks the defending champion’s serve. It’s a pity that the serve doesn’t support him in the second game and Fritz has the ball for the counterbreak. With a couple of forehand tracers the South Tyrolean conquers the opportunity of 2-0 but commits a double fault and it’s back to the advantages. He makes it on the third chance. In the fifth game it’s done again under the pupil of Vagnozzi and Cahill, he goes 30-0 on Fritz’s serve, but the American holds the serve with four consecutive points. Ditto in the seventh, with Taylor having to save himself from 0-30 then closes for 4-3. Danger immediately afterwards, when you go to the advantage on the Italian’s serve but the situation remains ahead for Sinner who goes up 5-2 and then earns a set point canceled by Fritz with the first ace of the match. He doesn’t have to wait long to close, Jannik: in 48 minutes he takes home the first set 6-4 conceding just one break point. Second partial that opens with a zero game from the landlord and with Sinner who from 30-0 lets himself reach 30-30 then with a winning serve and another point with the first ball he takes it 1-1. Fritz seems to have found the square despite a few too many problems on the forehand. Jannik ends up one step away from trouble who from 30-0 is 30-30 on 4-3 but two consecutive mistakes by his rival allow him to get back on 4-4. At 5-4 for the world No. 5, Jannik serves three second in a row and is down on the scoreline, 15-30. The American’s response is more incisive and allows him to command the exchanges. Two set points arrive for Fritz to close the second set 6-4. All to be redone.

The end

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Fritz has a small drop in service, Sinner knows he has to put his head forward immediately and wins two break points. At the second he goes 1-0 in the blaze of his box after a suffocating exchange. But when the 9 strokes are exceeded, it is almost always the Italian who takes stock. But the second game isn’t up to par, too many seconds put Fritz in the game and he takes back his serve. Still to be redone. The light comes on again at Sinner’s house in the third, with 3 balls for another break. Four points with the serve and Taylor gets out of the way. It is a bad blow for Jannik who is unable to score direct points with his serve and risks on 30-30. He manages to get out of the hole and holds for 2-2. At 3-3 Sinner still has a break point but obviously it’s not the evening and Fritz takes it to 4-3. All the pressure is on the Italian number 1 who is very good at not giving in, taking 4-4 ​​and attacking even in the ninth game where he has the eighth break point and for the second time breaks Fritz’s serve and serves for the match. He’s not wrong. He’s in the semifinals and he deserves it.