Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz powered previous Daniil Medvedev in a scintillating 6-3, 6-2 victory on Sunday to reclaim the highest spot on the earth rankings and raise the trophy on the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000.
U.S. Open champion Alcaraz ended Medvedev’s 19-match successful streak, denying him a fourth title in as many tournaments to make sure he’ll supplant Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic atop the rankings.
“It feels amazing to lift the trophy here, to recover the No. 1,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I would say this has been the perfect tournament.”
Serbia’s Djokovic, barred from coming into the United States as a result of he hasn’t been vaccinated towards Covid-19, sat out Indian Wells and can miss the Miami Open beginning this week, the place Alcaraz is the defending champion.
Alcaraz, 19, who turned the youngest world primary ever after his triumph at Flushing Meadows final yr, claimed his third Masters 1000 title and joined compatriot Rafael Nadal as the one gamers to win at the least three as a teen. Nadal gained six earlier than turning 20.
He was unstoppable on Stadium Court, breaking by what he’d referred to as the “wall” of Medvedev’s formidable defenses.
Medvedev, coming off titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, may discover no reply as Alcaraz fired winners from all around the court docket, defying the windy circumstances.
“Daniil obviously didn’t play at his best level, but I’m very happy for my performance and how I played this tournament.”
He mentioned the massive change in him since a semi-final defeat to Nadal final yr at Indian Wells was his consolation degree on the sport’s greatest phases.
“I believe my tennis did not enhance a lot since final yr. What I enhance lots is to not take the stress, simply to play relaxed. That, for me, is a very powerful factor.
“That’s why I show a great level because I feel like I have no pressure. I enjoy.”
Medvedev definitely wasn’t in a position to ratchet up the stress on him.
A stinging backhand winner gave Alcaraz an early break within the opening set as he raced to a 3-0 lead.
He gave himself a set level with a sharply angled forehand volley and sealed it with an unreturnable serve, then gained the primary 10 factors of the second set on the way in which to a 4-0 lead.
He did not face a break level as he polished it off in a single hour and 11 minutes, a diving volley winner giving him a match level that he transformed with one other service winner.
Not straightforward
“I expected a tougher match,” he mentioned. “Against him is always a tactic match, and I did perfect today. That’s why it looks easy – but it wasn’t.”
Alcaraz has returned to primary regardless of a late begin to the yr. The harm pressured him to overlook the Australian Open, the place Djokovic claimed a record-equalling twenty second Grand Slam title.
Since launching his season in February Alcaraz has gained a title in Buenos Aires and reached the ultimate in Rio de Janeiro.
But to remain on the prime he’ll need to efficiently defend his Miami title over the course of the subsequent two weeks.
Medvedev, a former world primary and US Open winner himself, was disenchanted that he did not play his finest, however happy to get previous the fourth spherical at Indian Wells for the primary time, regardless of twisting his ankle in a win over Alexander Zverev and reducing his thumb in one other tumble towards Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“Why did not I play my finest? I do not know. Maybe it was his ball. Maybe it was the wind, was fairly windy right now, and for him, it was simpler to undergo this wind, and that is regular.
“But the week was amazing,” added Medvedev by no means a fan of the gradual arduous courts of Indian Wells.
“I had a pretty toxic relationship with the courts here,” he mentioned throughout the trophy ceremony as he reeled off an extended checklist of these to thank.
“I would like to thank this court. I was giving a hard time to it, so it gave me a hard time also, rolled my ankle, but it gave me the chance to finish the tournament so thanks a lot to this court.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
