Indian Wells, Fritz beats Rublev and is in the final. Now Nadal-Alcaraz

Fritzantissimo Taylor. The boy who burns the stages and galvanizes himself in front of the home crowd in Indian Wells does not let the crumbs go to Andrey Rublev who in the semifinal bows 7-5 6-4 and gives him the place in the first 1000 final of his career: “Not it seems true to me, it is a dream that becomes reality. I think that all the efforts made in the past are finally paying off. The final? Whoever my rival is will be very tough. I will have to play like today. “

Ten years later

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Fritz serves well, responds well, plays strong, deep, central and immediately derails the certainties of Andrey who, after the two tournaments he had already won at the beginning of the year (Marseille and Dubai), was aiming to finally break the Masters 1000 taboo, of which he still is. without food. And instead Fritz becomes the first American finalist in Indian Wells since John Isner succeeded in 2012. Against the winner of the generational clash between Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz will aim to equal Andre Agassi, the last American tennis player to lift the trophy of California as far back as 2001.

That things would not have been easy, the Russian (who openly sided against the war) understood immediately: break at the opening for the American’s 2-0. At 4-1 still opportunities to double the break for the handsome Taylor, eternal promise (never beyond the n. 16 in the world) finally ready to blossom in the California desert. Rublev, still out of phase, tries to give him a hand with two double faults, but after 10 and a half minutes of effort he manages to keep the beat and go 4-2. The number 7 in the world decides to punish himself by kicking his leg. A gesture that perhaps unlocks him, because from then on his attitude changes.

In the next game, a mistake and a double foul make the corner of the American under 15-30 tremble, with mother Katy May (former number 10 in the world and heir to Macy’s department stores) in fibrillation. She gets along with Fritz who goes up 5-2.

Overturning

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Rublev takes his turn for the 5-3 and in the ninth game the situation changes suddenly. Fritz serves for the set but loses the feeling with the first one and finds himself with two very delicate break points to save. On the second occasion, the Russian resumes the lost service for the 5-4. At 6-5 for the opponent, Rublev still ends up in trouble. He saves a set point with a nice backhand down the line, but still gives away by slowing down the exchanges: at the third set point Fritz sprints ahead of a set. Another moment of self-harm for Andrey, who punches the racket and needs to have his hand treated in the locker room.

Second set much more balanced and linked to their respective shifts. In the eighth game Fritz at 4-3 becomes dangerous in Rublev’s turn with a break point that the Russian manages to neutralize while keeping his balance on 4-4.

The epilogue

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Immediately after it is the American, in service, who is in trouble with a break point to save. He does it with an excellent first in the middle, but the Russian again has the opportunity to go up 5-4 and serve. His backhand passer comes out very little, it is a gift that Fritz does not waste this time and goes to close for the 5-4. Cramps arrive for Fritz when he is three points from the match. But at 30-30 a bad mistake by Rublev leads the American to match point. Closes Taylor, who reaches the first final in a thousand and is virtually 15 in the world already.