Carlos Alcaraz, a Spaniard, claimed his second consecutive Indian Wells ATP title by defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. This marked his return to form after a slow start to the season, including an early exit at the Australian Open and an ankle injury in February’s Rio de Janeiro tournament.
Alcaraz, 20, initially had doubts about entering the tournament, given his longest title drought since winning the 2022 US Open. Notably, Alcaraz prevented Medvedev from claiming the only ATP Masters 1000 title missing from his collection. Alcaraz overcame a beehive of opponents to upset Jannik Sinner, the winner of the Australian Open, and advance past Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.
Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz acknowledged the significance of winning a Masters 1000 tournament, boosting his motivation and confidence for upcoming events, notably the Miami tournament. His win also solidified his place alongside Rafael Nadal as one of the few players to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21.
Despite Medvedev’s strong start, Alcaraz rallied back in the first set, eventually dominating the tiebreaker and securing control of the match. With entertaining rallies showcasing his skills, Alcaraz sealed his victory with a remarkable forehand passing shot, captivating the audience and solidifying his status as a rising star in tennis.
