The streak ended at the worst time. Rafael Nadal conceded the first defeat of the year in the indian wells final. The American Taylor Fritz he snatched his unbeaten record by defeating him 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). “I gave my best but today it wasn’t possible”, he admitted disappointed but happy for “having fought until the end”.
Triumphant Taylor! ?
inspired @Taylor_Fritz97 pulls off spectacular win over Nadal 6-3 7-6 to win the biggest title of his career!#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/lxWCRvSji6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 21, 2022
Fritz becomes the first American to win the title since Andrew Agassi He achieved it for the last time in 2001. A long journey through the desert for American tennis that continues without finding heirs to its dominance in previous times. “It’s amazing to beat someone who is unbeatable. I couldn’t believe it when I won the last point. Before the match I’ve been crying with pain from my ankle and I didn’t know if I could play.”said the American tennis player, 24 years old and 20 in the world, who in his first Masters 1,000 final and, at home, managed to knock down a Nadal who had 20 consecutive victories since the beginning of the year and three titles won in Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco.
Bad start
The final did not start well Nadal. In just 17 minutes he had given up his first two services to concede a resounding 4-0 against a Fritz who dominated him on the court imposing his serve and his forehand. The American tennis player, who entered the court with his right ankle bandaged due to a sprain suffered at the end of the semifinal against Andrey Rublev, had considered not playing in the final, but on the court he did not seem to have excessive problems with his foot. In 38 minutes he took the first set.
The six hours Nadal had spent on court battling in his last two matches to get past Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz seemed to take their toll. The Majorcan tennis player did not move easily. His expression was one of concern. His toilet didn’t work. The discomfort in the left pectoral that he already had in the semifinal against Alcaraz was mortifying him. After giving up the first set he requested medical attention to be treated by the tournament physio.
Decisive ‘tie break’
Nadal did not give up. He suffered but endured. Thus he managed to snatch Fritz’s service (1-2) but the American reacted to recover it in the next one (2-2). The equality was maintained until the ‘tie break’, but in that period Fritz saved up to 9 ‘break’ points and had his first ‘match ball’ with 5-4 and Nadal’s serve.
The Spaniard once again drew strength from where he didn’t seem to have to save the situation and have two break points at 6-5 to win the set. Fritz he avoided it again on his serve, and then, in sudden death, the American took home the jackpot of victory. Yes, suffering until the end. Nadal He was placed with 5-4 and served in his possession, but the American snatched the two service points from him and certified his victory after 2 hours and five minutes.
Jump to world number 3
Nadal leaves Indian Wells exhausted after a spectacular start to the season, having been sidelined for five months with left foot problems that made him doubt whether he would be able to continue playing. The former world number 1 will not play the Miami Masters 1,000 that begins on March 23. He does not want to force his foot ahead of the clay court season in which he has his next goals focused. This Monday he will appear in the ranking at number 3 in the world and the first outstanding in the classification of the year.
Swiatek, female champion
Related news
In the women’s final Iga Swiatek won the title by beating Maria Sakkar by 6-4 and 6-1. The Polish tennis player succeeds the last champion Paula Badosa. Her victory will allow her to appear this Monday in second place in the world behind the Australian Ashleigh Barty, absent in Indian Wells and also in the next Masters 1,000 in Miami.
Swiatek, 20, Roland Garros champion in 2020, dominated the Greek tennis player in 1 hour and 48 minutes. Sakkari, who in the semifinals had been very forceful against Badosa, did not find her best level of play, against a rival who dominated her on the court with more ease than expected.