Rafael Nadal

And against the far more seasoned and decorated Nadal, Fritz showed no signs of pain, nor of nerves, as soon as the match began. Fritz jumped out to a commanding 4-0 lead and didn't lose a single point on serve in those opening games. It was Nadal who ...

"I don't want to get ahead of myself," Fritz said. After winning the final point and handing Nadal his first loss of 2022, Fritz fell to the ground in a mixture of celebration and disbelief. I think it's getting easier for me to just focus on playing and not think about the stats. She is the youngest player to win a handful of trophies since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009. Fritz played immediately after 20-year-old Iga Swiatek had defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1 for the women's title, their combined victories proving a new generation of tennis players had in fact very much arrived to the top of the sport and is capable of beating anyone on any given day. Fritz will rise to a career-high ranking of No. 13 on Monday and overtake Reilly Opelka as the top-ranked male player from the United States. But Swiatek has emerged, most notably alongside three-time major champion and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, as one of the few players who can win week after week and on more than one surface. To do it here in Indian Wells, as well, the combination of all these crazy things that I never thought possible." Long considered one of the best hopes among the American men to contend for big titles, Fritz had won just once on the ATP Tour prior to Sunday at a 250-level tournament in Eastbourne in 2019. "Winning this tournament is one of those crazy childhood dreams that you really think is never going to happen," he said as the crowd roared and the tears began to fall down his face. Fritz jumped out to a commanding 4-0 lead and didn't lose a single point on serve in those opening games. And when Fritz had to abruptly end his practice on Sunday morning, wincing in pain, due to an ankle injury, many wondered if he would be able to play at all.