Indian Wells 2022: 2 positives Rafael Nadal can take away from his thrilling SF win over Carlos Alcaraz
Is Rafael Nadal even human? Champions have an uncanny ability to switch to another gear when they find themselves in a precarious position and this is exactly what Rafael Nadal did in his semi-final win against Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells.
With the win, the Spaniard extended his perfect start to the season to 20-0. In challenging, windy conditions, Nadal overcame his young compatriot 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and 12 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
In the final, Nadal will lock horns with Taylor Fritz as he eyes a record-equaling 37th Masters 1000 title. Fritz defeated Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-4 in the other semifinal to book a place in his maiden Masters 1000 final.
As Nadal and Fritz gear up to face each other in the final at Indian Wells, let’s dive deeper into two positives Nadal can take from his thrilling win over Alcaraz.
#1 Rafael Nadal played his best match of the tournament
Before facing Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal had played below-par tennis throughout the tournament. The Spaniard survived a massive scare in his opener against Sebastian Korda, being just a game away from elimination in the deciding set. While he got better as the tournament progressed, the Spaniard was nowhere near his best.
Facing his biggest test at the Indian Wells Masters against an in-form Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard needed to be at his absolute best. Nadal made a slow start to the match, losing his opening service game. However, his aggression helped him turn the situation around as he bagged the opening set 6-4.
After losing the second set, the reigning Australian Open champion raised his level when it mattered most to play a breathtaking brand of tennis. Demonstrating phenomenal skills at the net, Nadal managed to break Alcaraz in the eighth game of the decider. One break of serve was enough for Nadal as he won the deciding set 6-3 to reach his 53rd Masters 1000 final.
When he takes on Fritz on Sunday, he can draw a lot of confidence from the hard-fought win over his compatriot.
#2 Nadal was outstanding at the net against Alcaraz
Predominantly referred to as a baseliner, Nadal isn’t credited enough for his skills at the net. However, his game at the net, especially in the deciding set, made the difference in his clash against Alcaraz. Displaying tremendous hand speed and finesse, Nadal won a whopping 10 out of 14 points at the net in the third set.
Nadal chose the right moments to step in and finish points at the net. The way Nadal tweaked his game plan, especially during the second half of the deciding set, should give him a lot of satisfaction and belief ahead of the final in Indian Wells.
Can Nadal continue his winning run to claim his fourth title of the season against Fritz? An intriguing final clash awaits us in the Californian desert!
Also Check Out: Indian Wells Masters 2022 Schedule