Final:
Rafael Nadal (4) (Spain) v Taylor Fritz (20) (USA)
Nadal had won the only previous contest between the pair - the final in Acapulco, February 2020.
Nadal had obviously won heaps of Masters 1000 tournaments, including 3 before at Indian Wells.
Fritz was performing in his first Masters 1000 final.
Nadal began poorly, dropping his opening two service games.
Fritz hadn’t faced a break point when it came to serving for the set at 5-2, but the Spaniard retrieved one of the breaks, and trailed 3-5.
Serving to stay in the set, Nadal was soon in trouble, down 15-40. He saved one set point, but not the second, and Fritz was ahead 6-3.
The players exchanged breaks of serve in the second set to be level at 2-2.
In a pivotal fifth game, Fritz saved four break points, to lead 3-2.
In the seventh game he saved another, to move ahead 5-4.
Nadal saved a match point en route to levelling at 5-5, and Fritz saved another two break points to lead 6-5.
Nadal ensured a tie break by holding in the next game.
Fritz earned the early mini break, but Nadal closed it off and eventually things stood at 4-4.
Nadal won the next point off a Fritz serve and led 5-4, with two serves to come.
Fritz won both and had match point. His serve was followed up with a forehand which Nadal couldn’t handle and the match was over. 6-3 7-6(5).
An unexpected result, snapping the undefeated run for Nadal at the start of 2022, but of most importance a breakthrough win for Taylor Fritz.
His first Masters 1000 trophy.
The win takes Fritz to a career high ranking of #13, and to the position of number one American.
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