Rafael Nadal survives Carlos Alcaraz and swirling wind over three-plus hours in moving to 20-0 on the year

MATCH POINT: Nadal stays perfect in 2022

At Indian Wells on Saturday, three-time BNP Paribas Open champion Rafael Nadal needed every bit of his experience to keep his perfect 2022 season intact during a semifinal battle lasting 3 hours and 12 minutes. Taking on a worthy competitor 17 years his junior, Nadal fought off the challenge of Carlos Alcaraz and a lengthy dose of swirling wind to prevail, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, in improving to 20-0 on the season.

"In the second, the conditions became crazy, honestly," summed up Nadal to Paul Annacone.

Nadal initially trailed by an early break before working his way into the match and breaking at the end to grab a one-set advantage. Early in the second set, gusts picked up in pace, favoring the returner. At 4-4, Alcaraz produced a stunning lob winner to secure the fifth consecutive break between the two competitors after a stirring game that lasted 19 minutes and 42 seconds, and after the changeover, held his nerve to level the clash.

The breezy conditions slowed as the third set built, giving a better indication of what the match might have looked like in a more neutral setting. Trading heavy ball-striking in more extended rallies, Nadal was forced to save three break points in the fifth game, taking a more aggressive stance by coming forward when presented the opportunity.

It paid off in a big way when he broke with a forehand volley winner for 5-3, and he slammed the door shut without any final resistance.

"I knew I need[ed] to do something. When the wind stopped a little bit, I thought I need to play aggressive," he said.

The Spaniards previously met last year in Madrid, when the left-hander conceded just three games during a second-round rout. Alcaraz was contesting his biggest semifinal to date and saw his nine-match win streak dating back to his Rio de Janeiro title run ended.

Nadal is bidding to lift his fourth consecutive title to start 2022, all on hard courts. After winning the Melbourne Summer Set 1 and Australian Open in January, he arrived in the California desert on the back of triumphing at Acapulco. With today’s win, he is projected to overtake Alexander Zverev for No. 3 in Monday’s ATP singles rankings.

Awaiting in Sunday’s championship match is first-time Masters 1000 finalist Taylor Fritz. The 24-year-old American beat Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 6-4. Nadal won his lone prior encounter with Fritz in the 2020 Acapulco final.

Stay tuned for a full report from Joel Drucker.