Indian Wells | Nadal affrontera Fritz an Finale

(Indian Wells) The final of the masculine volley at the Indian Wells Tournament will feature Espagnol Rafael Nadal and American Taylor Fritz.

Veteran Nadal pursued his incredible start to the season in the semifinals taking the measure of his young compatriot of 18 and Carlos Alcaraz in three rounds of 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3.

Fourth head of the series, Nadal affrontera Fritz, 20^e head of series, Sunday.

In his own semi-final, Fritz finished in the sequence of 13 victories by Andrey Rublev in the elimination in two rounds of 7-5 and 6-4, on Saturday, to advance to the final of the Indian Wells tournament.

Fritz became the first American to reach the final in the California desert since John Isner in 2012. No American has succeeded in winning the tournament by more than 20 years. The last to succeed is the great Andre Agassi, in 2001.

In the case of Rublev, the seventh head of the series, he suffered a first defeat since 14 February. During his 13-win streak, he has won two consecutive tournaments in Marseille and Dubai.

Supported by the foul, Fritz who frequented Indian Wells since his infancy, quickly took the 3-0 lead in the first round after breaking the Rublev service on the first occasion.

“I was not the favorite so I was allowed to be a little freer,” said Fritz, “but it was too fluid for me.” »The American had been eliminated in the semi-finals during the previous edition of the tournament presented exceptionally in October 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rublev is nevertheless the return of the arrears to make 5-5 before incline when Fritz obtains another breeze at 6-5, after seven draws, to break the set.

“It is an enormous service, which gives it a great advantage, Rublev analyzed after the duel. In addition to that, it strikes well on both sides, right and back.”

From the female side, the Polish Iga Swiatek and the Greek Maria Sakkari have a rendezvous in the final.

Swiatek, third in the series and fourth in the World Cup, reached two rounds of 7-6 (6) and 6-4 on Simona Halep in the semi-finals on Friday. The first world and first world rocket 26^e in the WTA rankings for sale.

However, in the second round, while Swiatek beat 2-1, Halep needed a stoppage time to receive medical treatment. A bandage was made to surround the top of his left kitchen.

From that moment on, Halep broke the Swiatek service twice and took the lead 4-2, but the Polonaise is revenue to carry the next four games while escaping only four small points in the sequence.

A little later in the evening, Sakkari, seventh head of series, but sixth World Cup, confirmed in turn his place in the final taking the measure of Espagnole Paula Badosa in three rounds of 6-2, 4-6 and 6-1.

Badosa was the champion in the title of the tournament.

With the France-Presse Agency