Indian Wells: Fritz-Kecmanovic 7-6 3-6 6-1. In the semifinal there is Rublev

Indian Wells’ fourth semifinalist is Taylor Fritz; the American overtook the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 3-6 6-1 and now at the penultimate obstacle he will face the Russian Andrey Rublev. The other semifinal is the Spanish derby between the unbeaten Rafael Nadal and the teenager Carlos Alcaraz.

The match

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After 18 minutes, the first break point of the match arrives. Fritz gets it with an excellent running lob. The American, however, does not take advantage of the opportunity, Kecmanovic becomes aggressive, saves the chance and then holds the serve for the 3-2. But the most delicate moment of the set comes on 5 all when it is Kecmanovic who has two break points. Fritz saves the first and second with a great backhand at the end of an interminable exchange. Fritz flies to the tie break, climbs 4-0, then 5-2 and two services available, but Kecmanovic never gives up a point and catches him back on 5 all. But here it is Fritz who is more enterprising and with a change of pace he reaches the set point with the service available. The first is of substance and the American collects the first set for 7-6 in 48 minutes. In the second set Fritz seems to have more resources and also seems more determined. The American, however, wastes 5 break points: 2 in the first game, one in the third and then two more in the seventh that would have sent him forward 4-3. But the eighth game is disastrous for Fritz who commits 3 double fouls, gives up the serve, misses the ball of the counter break and then is forced to surrender to the wild Kecmanovic who screams all his anger when he extends the game to the third set.

Stocked

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At the beginning of the third set Fritz finally manages to snatch the joke from his rival for the first time in the match. Kecmanovic’s tank suddenly marks red. The American wins 5 games in a row and then closes 6-1 after an hour and 56 minutes of play. For Fritz it is the second semi-final in a row in a few months at Indian Wells. Last October he lost to Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili who then surrendered to Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the final.