Tennis: Fritz hands Nadal first 2022 defeat to lift Indian Wells trophy

INDIAN WELLS -- Taylor Fritz stunned Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) on Sunday to win the ATP Indian Wells Masters and end the 21-time Grand Slam champion's perfect 20-0 run to start 2022.

Fritz, ranked 20th in the world, claimed his second career title and his first at the elite Masters 1000 level while denying Nadal a record-equaling 37th Masters crown.

The 24-year-old American achieved his biggest triumph despite an injured right ankle that was so painful when he tested it Sunday morning he didn't think he'd be able to play.

"This is just one of those childhood dreams, winning this tournament especially, Indian Wells, this is one of those childhood dreams you never even think can come true," the Southern California native said, fighting back tears.

The 35-year-old Nadal was also pushing himself through pain, twice receiving treatment on his upper body during the match.

"Obviously there's some stuff going on," Fritz said of Nadal's struggles, but that didn't dim his joy in becoming the first American men's champion at Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001 and the youngest Indian Wells men's winner since Novak Djokovic in 2011.

Nadal had already said he would skip next week's Miami Masters to give his body a rest and prepare for the claycourt season.

After fearing a foot injury that halted his 2021 campaign might end his career, the Spaniard claimed a record-setting 21st Grand Slam singles title with an epic comeback vicory over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final, then won the title at Acapulco.

Battling to the end, he saved one match point in the 10th game of the second set, but in a tense tiebreaker that decided it all Fritz proved too much.

After Nadal spun a forehand wide to give up another match point, Fritz put it away with yet another of his big forehand winners.

Fritz's fitness concerns were at the forefront when the American fell on the very first point of the match. 

But otherwise he showed no ill-effects as he broke Nadal twice to race to a 4-0 led in the opening set in 19 minutes.

Nadal, coming off a draining three-set semi-final victory over 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, looked sluggish, but he appeared to have found his range when he held at love to make it 4-1.

But he was unable to make any inroads on Fritz's serve until the American served for the set at 5-2 and Nadal converted his only break chance of the set when Fritz sent a forehand long.

However, the Spaniard was unable to build any momentum, immediately surrendering the break and the set after 39 minutes.

Nadal, who had had a quick adjustment from the trainer on court against Alcaraz to address discomfort around the left side of his chest, took a medical timeout and left the court indicating the same area to the trainer.

But it was the world number four who gained the upper hand in the second set with a break for 2-1, Fritz giving him a first chance with an ill-timed double fault, coming up with a big serve then falling to a forehand winner from Nadal.

But the American broke back immediately and saved four break points in the next game and they went with serve to the tiebreaker.

Agence France-Presse

Djokovic comes from same stock as other sport icons

Tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won a record fifth Indian Wells title on Sunday, says when he is at the top of his game it feels like he is “in the zone”.

Djokovic has been ranked No. 1 in the world since July 2014 and credits his magical run of success to not only a strict routine off the court, but incredible instincts on the court.

Djokovic describes it as “pattern recognition” — reacting and remembering both consciously and subconsciously to what his opponent is doing then capitalizing on that.

“Subconscious and conscious are directly linked. When you’re able to understand both and grasp both sides, you’re able to be in the present moment, which I think most of the professional athletes call in the zone kind of moment,” Djokovic said following his 6-2, 6-0 demolition of Canadian Milos Raonic on Sunday.

“Conscious, I think touches the material, physical part, where you can actually do something that’s tangible, which means prepare yourself mentally with video analysis, the data, the stats, the previous experiences.

“Subconsciously, I think it relates to yourself and how well you’re moving and how focused you are on the court and on your opponent.”

Djokovic, who is one of just three players to have more than 700 career wins, shares the same championship pedigree as a Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James or Tom Brady.

Thinking the same thing

“I can see that there is a lot of professional athletes at the very top level in different sports that explain it in maybe different words, but they are thinking about more or less the same thing that I’m thinking about,” Djokovic said.

“It all comes down to more or less the same thing, being able to use and maximize your potential as an athlete in every aspect of your being.”

Djokovic needed just 77 minutes to take down the hard-serving Raonic, who regularly clocks first serves at 140 mph (225 km/ph) and is off to a career best 14-2 start this season.

“All the top players have a very high level of sports and tennis intelligence otherwise they wouldn’t be here.

“There are people who rely more on the mathematical side and there are people who rely more on gut feeling, instinct and kind of figuring out the situations and doing what they think is most appropriate at the time.

“I believe the best way is somewhere in the middle.”

It is going to take that kind of dedication and devotion to get Djokovic over the next big challenge in his career  — winning a French Open.

He is hoping his third straight Indian Wells crown will finally be a stepping stone to his maiden win in Roland-Garros, completing the career Grand Slam.

“Roland Garros has been and is this year again one of the top priorities of the season,” he said.

“I grew up on clay, I love playing on clay. I still haven’t won that Grand Slam played on clay courts, but I have gotten very close a couple of times and I know that it doesn’t take too much more to win the trophy.”

source: sports.inquirer.net