Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev met for the BNP Paribas Open title for the second straight year at the Indian Wells. And for the second consecutive year, Alcaraz has risen up to the top with the trophy.
The scoreline was tighter compared to last year’s 6-3, 6-2 decision, but Alcaraz still managed to secure victory in straight sets. He bounced back from an an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Russian, 7-6 (5), 6-1, for the victory.
“Winning this tournament means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said in his post match on-court interview. “The week before it began I had a lot of doubts about my ankle—I remember my first practice here, it was just 30 minutes with no movement, and probably the first practice with tennis players, really good tennis players, it was really tough for me because I was not playing my best. I was not feeling well with my ankle.”
“But once I stepped on the court for my first round I started to feel better, and as I said after every match I was feeling better and better, and I’m really, really happy to be able to win this tournament again.”
Carlos Alcaraz Makes Tennis History: Key Milestones and Triumphs at Indian Wells
Alcaraz managed to pull off a few things, thanks to the win:
The Spaniard is the First Man in eight years to successfully defend an Indians Well Title. The last man to achieve this feat was Novak Djokovic, who actually did it for three straight years, winning three consecutive tiles in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Carlos Alcaraz is also the second man ever to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21. He joins his fellow Spaniard countryman Rafael Nadal. Nadal himself won nine before turning 21.
This was Carlos Alacaraz’s first title since Wimbledon. Since clinching his second Grand Slam title last July, Alcaraz has performed admirably, reaching the final in Cincinnati and advancing to four more semifinals, including at the US Open and ATP Finals. Now, in the desert, he has returned to the winner’s circle.
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Carlos Alcareaz defeated the No. 6-ranked Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals and snapped the 19-match winning streak of No. 3-ranked Jannik Sinner. But things seemed tricky for him as Medvedev—the world No. 4—jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in Sunday’s final.
However Alcaraz got his much desired breakback right away to get the first set back on serve. The two eventually held their serves all the way to the tie-break, where Alcaraz would ultimately close out the grueling 69-minute opening frame.
As the floodgates opened, the 20-year-old took off to a 3-0 lead in the second set. And he never looked back for the straight-set victory.
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