INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Indian Wells filled with doubt about his twisted proper ankle. He is leaving as a two-time champion.
He defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1 for the second straight yr within the BNP Paribas Open remaining on Sunday, incomes his first title since successful Wimbledon final yr.
Alcaraz sprained his ankle on the Rio Open in late February. His first apply at Indian Wells lasted half-hour with none motion. His first apply along with his fellow execs “was actually robust for me,” he stated in a Tennis Channel interview.
Alcaraz outlasted Jannik Sinner in a three-set semifinal after needing three units to get out of his second-round match.
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“After each match I used to be feeling higher,” Alcaraz stated. “I used to be getting extra assured after each match. Profitable a Grasp 1000 once more, a very vital event to win, provides you motivation to maintain going.”
Alcaraz turned the primary man to defend his Indian Wells title since Novak Djokovic gained three in a row from 2014 to 2016. He beat Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 final yr within the Southern California desert.
“It is undoubtedly your court docket, you prefer it right here,” Medvedev advised Alcaraz in the course of the victory ceremony. “Hopefully you may someday let me play a bit bit higher right here.”
Medvedev led 3-0 within the first set whereas Alcaraz had eight unforced errors over these video games. The Spaniard gained three video games in a row to tie it 3-3.
The gamers held serve the remainder of the set, with Alcaraz serving a love recreation to get into the tiebreaker. He led 3-0 and 5-2 earlier than Medvedev tied it 5-5. Alcaraz gained the subsequent two factors to shut it out.
Alcaraz acquired the one two breaks within the second set, when Medvedev had one winner and 9 errors.
For the match, Alcaraz hit 25 winners and had 26 unforced errors, whereas Medvedev had 11 winners and 23 unforced errors.
Alcaraz is the second participant to win 5 or extra ATP Masters 1000 titles earlier than their twenty first birthday for the reason that collection started in 1990. The opposite is Rafael Nadal.
Alcaraz earned $1.1 million for his win. That is lower than the $1.26 million the lads’s champion obtained in 2023. This yr extra prize cash was allotted to the sooner rounds, lowering the champions’ prize cash by practically 13%.
ESPN Stats & Info and The Related Press contributed to this report.
