By Andrea Montolivo
Sports Desk, US, Mar 17 (EFE) – Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reaffirmed his Indian Wells Masters 1000 crown on Sunday with a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in a rematch of the 2023 final in the California desert.
After ending Italy’s Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak in the semifinals, Alcaraz was back on top in Indian Wells, adding his fifth Masters 1000 title to an already extraordinary career.
After Sunday’s victory, the 20-year-old Murcian became the second Spaniard with the most Masters 1000 titles (5), behind Rafa Nadal (36).
Alcaraz improved his record against Medvedev to 4-2, avenging his September defeat against the Russian at the US Open in New York.
It took him one hour and 47 minutes to beat Medvedev due to a very demanding first set, in which he came back from a breakdown to take the tiebreak.
Medvedev did not have the strength to respond after losing the set, and the twenty-first title of his career slipped out of his grasp.
A key first-set
Alcaraz struggled against Medvedev, who had to adjust his game to make the Spaniard work.
The Russian served in a much more advanced position than he had been for the rest of the tournament and broke Carlitos in the first game.
As in the match against Sinner, Alcaraz needed a few minutes to find his rhythm. He struggled with the wind on center court and made up to eleven unforced errors in the first three games.
Nevertheless, he had three break points without converting them, and Medvedev broke back to take a 3-0 lead.
“You have to calm down and see things clearly,” Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s coach, told him.
His words seemed to work because the young Spaniard changed his attitude, played with more solidity, and, with a drop shot followed by a forehand pass, got the break back to level the match.
At 4-4, he had another break ball, but his backhand went out by inches.
Alcaraz found his game and forced Medvedev to win the point several times with admirable defense, but he still had to go through a tense tiebreak to take advantage.
He nearly squandered a 3-0 lead; however, Medvedev came back to level at 5-5, but Carlitos took the first set 7-5 in an hour and ten-minute battle.
It was a psychological blow for Medvedev and a huge confidence boost for Alcaraz, who made the most of the momentum early in the second set.
He held his serve at 30-all and earned three break points in the Russian’s first turn.
He took the third with a beautiful passing backhand and converted it with a forehand return for a 2-0 lead.
The second set came easy for the Murcian, while Medvedev struggled to find his rhythm.
Alcaraz lost two points in his next two service games and, with the score at 4-1, got the second break, at 15, to serve for the match.
He made the most of the opportunity. Medvedev, already one step away from defeat, was confronted by the crowd for continuing to encourage the Murcian even during the points.
Alcaraz held his serve to 15 and revalidated his title in Indian Wells to confirm himself as the king of the Californian desert. EFE
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