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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Rafael Nadal on Taylor Fritz loss: ‘I gave my everything’

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Rafael Nadal skipped the second part of the 2021 season due to an injury. The Spaniard made a fresh start this year and claimed 20 victories from the opening 20 encounters! Rafa conquered Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco before reaching the Indian Wells final.

Seeking the fourth consecutive title, Nadal fell to Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6 for his first defeat in 2022. Struggling with a left pectoral muscle injury, Rafa could not play at his best and impose his strokes. He sprayed over 30 unforced errors to hand the first Masters 1000 trophy to the 24-year-old American.

Speaking about the final, Rafa said he could not do much, despite keeping fighting and having chances to prolong the battle and force a decider. Fritz was not at his best either, experiencing an ankle injury in the semi-final against Andrey Rublev but enduring all the efforts to lift the trophy and crack the top-15.

The American was the more aggressive player, doing damage with his forehand and staying in touch with the Spaniard in the more extended exchanges. Taylor won ten points more than Rafa and fended off eight out of ten break chances, mainly in the second set.

Playing miles below his best, Nadal got broken four times from nine opportunities offered to his young opponent to finish on the losing side. They had a similar number of winners, and 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. The home player held at love in game two and grabbed another break with a forced error for a 3-0 lead.

Fritz moved 4-0 up with a comfortable hold before Nadal pulled one break back at 2-5. Still, the Spaniard suffered the third break in game nine to hand it to his rival 6-3 after 39 minutes.

Rafael Nadal struggled with an injury against Taylor Fritz in Indian Wells.

Rafa broke at 1-1 in the second set after forcing Taylor’s mistake before losing the advantage in the next game. Fritz defended four break points at 2-2 for a massive hold and played against a break chance at 4-4. Taylor saved it with a reliable backhand and brought the game home in another pivotal moment.

The home player earned a match point at 5-4 after a running forehand down the line winner. Nadal saved it with a forehand attack and survived to lock the result at 5-5. The Spaniard wasted two more break chances in the 11th game and put himself under pressure in the tie break.

The more experienced player hit a terrible forehand drive-volley at 5-4, which marked the beginning of his end. Taylor grabbed another mini-break in the 11th point and converted the second match point with a forehand attack for a career-best moment.

“I tried my best, but it was not my day. That happens, and I have experience in all these situations. Honestly, it was tough to play the final like this, but I gave my everything until the end. I had my chances in the second set, but I did not convert them; that’s it.

I think it’s a difficult match to analyze personally from my side because I could not do many things I usually do,” Rafael Nadal said.

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