Fritz stuns Nadal to win in Indian Wells, first American in 21 years

Nadal and Taylor Fritz

Nadal and Taylor Fritz

American Taylor Fritz upset Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6 (5) Sunday to win the BNP Paribas Open and snap the 21-time major champion’s 20-match winning streak this year.

He became the first American man to win Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001. Fritz earned $1.2 million.

“It’s an honour to even be on the same court as this guy,” the 24 year-old Fritz told the crowd. “I grew up watching this guy win everything.”

Nadal fought off a match point on his serve with a forehand winner to tie the second set 5-all.

Taylor Fritz stuns Nadal in Indian Wells
Taylor Fritz stuns Nadal in Indian Wells

He had two break points on Fritz’s serve in the next game, but the American held for a 6-5 lead. Nadal held to force the tiebreaker.

Nadal sent two straight forehands well wide to set up Fritz’s second match point.

Another Nadal error sent the 24-year-old American to the biggest victory of his career not far from where he grew up near San Diego.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek

Fritz’s parents, Guy Fritz and Kathy May, are former tour players.

“Winning this tournament is just one of those crazy childhood dreams that you don’t think is ever going to happen,” he said.

Fritz dropped his racket and collapsed on his back.

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He got up smiling with a look of disbelief on his face.

He became the first American man to win Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001. Fritz earned $1.2 million.

In the women’s final, Poland’s Iga Swiatek blew away Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-1 to move up to number two in the world rankings.

Another windy day in the California desert made life miserable for both players, the gusts contributing to an uneven contest littered with nine breaks of serve.

The 20-year-old Swiatek claimed six of those breaks including two in a one-sided second set, clinching a second consecutive WTA 1000 title with a thundering forehand winner.

The title is the fifth of 2020 French Open champion Swiatek’s career.

“It’s pretty crazy because I wasn’t expecting to be in that place (final) especially after playing so well in the previous tournament.

” I didn’t know it was possible for me to play that well for that long,” said Swiatek, winner of the WTA 1000 event in Doha in February.

“Today was really crazy because of the conditions.”

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