Indian WellsAmerican tennis player Taylor Fritz has ended Andrei Roeblev’s winning streak. Fritz defeated the Russian in the semifinals of the masters tournament in Indian Wells in two sets: 7-5 6-4. Roeblev had come to Indian Wells with tournament victories in Marseille and Dubai.
The 24-year-old Russian, number 7 in the world, saw his series of thirteen victories end against Fritz. The American managed to break Rublev twice in the first set. Fritz decided the match by again winning the service from Roeblev in the second set with a 5-4 lead.
The 24-year-old American thus qualified for his first masters final. The number 20 in the world has already been in a final six times on the ATP Tour. Fritz won one, in 2019 on grass at Eastbourne.
The American will face the winner of the Spanish match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the final in California on Sunday. Fritz could become the first American winner in Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001.
Women
In the women’s tournament, Paula Badosa failed to reach the final of the Indian Wells masters tournament. The Spanish title defender had to recognize her superiority in Maria Sakkari from Greece in the semi-final battle. It was 6-2 4-6 6-1. Martina Navratilova remains the last tennis player to win the Indian Wells tournament twice in a row, in 1990 and 1991.
Sakkari will face Iga Swiatek in the final. The Polish won 7-6 (6) 6-4 against two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep from Romania. Due to her strong performance, Swiatek rises to third position in the world ranking anyway and even to second after winning the final. “It’s really beyond my expectations,” said Swiatek after her win.
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