In Indian Wells stunner, Taylor Fritz hands Rafael Nadal first loss of 2022, and wins his first ATP Masters 1000 title
The American's playing status was in question heading into the match, but Rafa—who was 20-0—turned out to be the one feeling it physically.
WATCH: Taylor Fritz finishes off Rafael Nadal for his first ATP Masters 1000 title
Many thought Rafael Nadal might pull even with Novak Djokovic in the ATP Masters 1000 title count—at an astonishing 37—without ever striking a tennis ball on Sunday.
Then Taylor Fritz, whose ankle was a concern after his semifinal win over Andrey Rublev, and who appeared heavily compromised in pre-match practice video, started striking balls at his brutal best from the baseline. It was the kind of first-strike tennis necessary to defeat Nadal, even if the California native was feeling 100 percent.
When Fritz took a 4-0 lead without losing a single point on serve, his ankle was an afterthought—and the conversation suddenly shifted to Nadal's physical condition. After two lengthy three-set wins over Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz, was the 35-year-old who we have been worried about? It became evident that the answer was yes, when the Spaniard called for a doctor and physio just before Fritz closed out a 6-3 first set.
Frustration soon mounted for Nadal, whose accuracy and movement were far below his sky-high average, all while Fritz continued to bash balls through the court. When Nadal finally took a lead on Fritz—breaking for 2-1 in the second set—positivity peeked out. But all it took was a game for Fritz to regain the break and put Nadal back in a negative and precarious position. In a 10-minute game that followed, Nadal failed to convert a series of break points, putting Fritz closer to his very first Masters title.
When Nadal won a 36-shot rally to earn break point at 4-4, it felt like a moment this match could turn. But once again, Fritz stayed true to what had brought him to this point: relentless offense. He saved the break chance, held serve, and reached match point (after sliding to track down a short ball and send it back for a winner—the ankle looked pretty good there).
Nadal saved that match point with a huge forehand.
Would you have ever guessed, at that point, that Nadal would botch a swing volley that he makes in his sleep, and which would have earned him two set points in the eventual tiebreaker?
Nadal couldn't save the second match point.
With Fritz's 6-3, 7-6 (5) win, he becomes the first American, man or woman, to win the Indian Wells singles title since 2001.
Last May, Fritz endured a freak injury when facing match point in his second-round loss to Dominik Koepfer at Roland Garros. The American heard a pop in his knee and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair. Fritz remarkably recovered from surgery in time to play Wimbledon and is projected to rise to a career-high No. 15 in Monday’s ATP rankings as a result of his strong push since the French Open.
Nadal is also expected to rise, usurping Alexander Zverev at No. 3. His next appearance will likely be the Monte Carlo Masters, which he has won 11 times. He previously announced he would not compete in Miami, the second part of the Sunshine Double that will also be without Novak Djokovic (U.S. entry restrictions) and Roger Federer (recovering from knee surgery).
