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Upsets send Fritz, Basilashvili to semis at Indian Wells

Posted October 16, 2021 7:00 am

By BETH HARRIS

Taylor Fritz, of the United States, reacts after defeating Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) - Taylor Fritz beat No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Friday to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in front of a hometown crowd, scoring the biggest win of his young career.

Fritz rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the third set by winning four of five games - when Zverev held two match points - to force the tiebreaker. He raced to a 6-1 lead and won it on his third match point when Zverev's forehand landed beyond the baseline.

'œI kept fighting,'ť Fritz said. 'œThe crowd pushing me on meant so much.'ť

Victoria Azarenka defeated Jelena Ostapenko 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach Sunday's final, where she'll try to become the first woman to win the tournament three times. The former world No. 1 won in 2012 and 2016.

Azarenka rallied from a set and a break down. Ostapenko held three break points to try to send the match to a tiebreak in the third, but Azarenka's serve stayed steady until the end and helped her close out the win.

'œCan you be more brave than that?'ť Azarenka said about saving a break point leading 6-5. 'œI was thinking in my head, I'm going to use one drop shot. I chose the perfect timing.'ť

No. 12 Ons Jabeur played 21st-seeded Paula Badosa in a late semifinal.

Fritz was the clear favorite at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where 83-year-old Hall of Famer Rod Laver looked on. Fritz, the 23-year-old son of retired top-10 player Kathy May, grew up in the San Diego area and attended the tournament as a youngster.

Fritz had five previous wins over top-10 players in 2019, including No. 5 Dominic Thiem at the Laver Cup. Now, he's bagged his biggest by beating Zverev, ranked fourth in the world.

'œThis is the farthest I've ever been in a big tournament,'ť said Fritz, who won his first ATP Tour title at Eastbourne in 2019. 'œIt's easily the best win of my life, against a really tough opponent on arguably the biggest match I could possibly play, so it's great.'ť

Fritz's semifinal opponent Saturday is 29th-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili, who outlasted No. 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The other semi features No. 21 Cameron Norrie against No. 23 Grigor Dimitrov, who earlier knocked out top-seeded Daniil Medvedev in three sets.

'œThis one hurts because I knew that after Stefanos lost, I was kind of the favorite to win this tournament," Zverev said, "but my tennis wasn't there yet.'ť

Zverev, the gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, had been the highest remaining men's seed in the combined ATP and WTA tour event that was moved to the fall from its usual March date because of the coronavirus pandemic. Upsets knocked out several top players in a tournament that has lacked both its usual crowds and biggest stars, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

Fritz fought off two match points in breaking Zverev to trail 5-4 in the third set. Zverev's 135-mph ace set up his second match point, but he double-faulted.

Fritz served a love game for a 5-all tie. After Zverev held with the court nearly half in shadow from the searing late afternoon sun, Fritz held again to force the tiebreaker.

'œI just had the confidence to keep hitting my forehand, keep being aggressive,'ť Fritz said. 'œWhenever the chance to kind of make a play happened, I went for it.'ť

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More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CORRECTS OPPONENT TO JELENA OSTAPENKO, INSTEAD OF ONS JABEUR - Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, returns a shot to Jelena Ostapenko, of Latvia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns to Taylor Fritz, of the United States, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia, returns to Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Taylor Fritz, of the United States, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, returns to Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, takes a tumble during his match against Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, reacts to losing a point to Nikoloz Basilashvili, of Georgia, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

CORRECTS TO JELENA OSTAPENKO, INSTEAD OF ONS JABEUR - Jelena Ostapenko, of Latvia, returns a shot to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press

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