World no. 20 Taylor Fritz claimed his first Masters 1000 title in front of the home fans in Indian Wells. The California native toppled a 21-time Major champion Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6 in two hours and six minutes, lifting a notable trophy and delivering Nadal’s first loss of the season.
Rafa fractured his rib but still reached the final following tight victories over Reilly Opelka, Nick Kyrgios and Carlos Alcaraz. A three-time champion gave his best in the title clash but missed his chances in the second set and finished with the runner-up prize.
Taylor became the first American winner of a Masters 1000 title since John Isner in Miami 2018 and the first in the desert since Andre Agassi in 2001! Fritz threw everything he had at Nadal and stayed calm in the second set to wrap up the triumph and start a massive celebration.
Rafa was far from his best, and Taylor felt the same! He injured his ankle in the semi-final closing stages against Andrey Rublev and did not know how his body would react in the final. Still, he was determined to give his everything against a 21-time Major winner and fight for the crown in front of the home crowd.
Taylor won ten points more than Rafa and fended off eight out of ten break chances. Two breaks were not enough to keep Nadal safe, as he got broken four times from nine opportunities offered to his young opponent. Taylor had the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes and stayed on level terms with the mighty rival in the more extended rallies to earn the win.
They had a similar number of winners. The American tamed his strokes nicely to stay on 22 unforced errors while the Spaniard sprayed 34. Taylor forced Rafa’s backhand error on the fourth break chance in the encounter’s opening game for an early advantage and momentum.
Taylor Fritz defeated Rafael Nadal in the Indian Wells final.
World no. 20 held at love in game two and grabbed another break after spreading Rafa over the baseline for a 3-0 lead. Fritz held at love again in game four, and it was clear that Nadal was not at his best physically.
The Spaniard pulled one break back in game eight after the rival’s backhand mistake to reduce the deficit. The Spaniard netted a routine backhand in game nine and faced two set points. Fritz seized the second after Nadal’s loose forehand to deliver his third break and win the opener 6-3 in 39 minutes.
Rafa created two break chances at 1-1 in the second set after Taylor’s double fault. Nadal converted the second after the rival’s wayward forehand to open a 2-1 gap. Fritz broke back in the next game to erase the deficit and lock the result at 2-2.
The American defended four break points in game five to remain on the positive side and gain a boost. Nadal earned another break chance at 4-4 with a forehand crosscourt winner. Fritz saved it with a solid backhand attack to prolong the game, refusing to surrender.
The home player brought it home after Nadal’s backhand error for a 5-4 advantage. Rafa received a medical timeout on his left rib and served to stay in the match in game ten. Taylor created a match point with a forehand down the line winner, and Rafa denied it with a forehand attack to extend the battle.
The Spaniard had more return chances in game 11. He squandered the first with a loose forehand and the second when the American fired a rare ace. Nadal left those chances behind and produced a fine hold in game 12 to introduce a tie break.
Rafa landed a volley winner at the net for 3-3 and claimed the seventh point after Taylor’s poor backhand. The Spaniard attacked in the ninth point and closed it with a smash winner at the net for a 5-4 advantage. Rafa played a terrible forehand drive-volley from an ideal position in the tenth point to bring the rival back to 5-5.
Taylor grabbed another mini-break in the 11th point and seized the second match point with a forehand attack for his first Masters 1000 title.
