World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz secured a decisive 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, claiming his second consecutive Indian Wells ATP title on the expense of the Russian.
This win marks Alcaraz’s first title since Wimbledon final July and makes him the primary participant to win back-to-back titles at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic’s three consecutive wins from 2014 to 2016.
For the 20-year-old Spaniard, his 12-day journey within the California desert proved pivotal after a difficult begin to the season, together with a quarterfinal exit on the Australian Open and an ankle damage that compelled him to withdraw from his opening match in Rio de Janeiro in February.
“A lot of doubts for me,” he stated of his mindset coming in, amid his longest title drought since he burst onto the scene together with his first Grand Slam title on the 2022 U.S. Open.
For Alcaraz, nevertheless, it wasn’t nearly ending the drought; it was about rediscovering his pleasure within the sport.
“It means a lot to me, lifting this trophy, winning this tournament, because I overcame a lot of problems in my head, a lot of physical problems,” he stated.
“Not that I did not win a match since Wimbledon. For me, it does not matter. It’s concerning the emotions … It’s about having fun with enjoying tennis, as soon as I step on the court docket, placing my sport. That’s what solely issues.
“That’s why I’m really, really happy to lift this trophy, because I found myself at this tournament.”
Like final yr, Alcaraz denied Medvedev’s bid to seize the one one of many ATP’s six hardcourt Masters 1000 titles he has but to win.
More importantly, after every week during which he ended Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s 19-match successful streak, Alcaraz was trying ahead with renewed confidence to subsequent week’s hardcourt match in Miami and past.
“Obviously winning tournaments helps a lot coming to the next ones,” stated Alcaraz, whose match included not solely a semifinal victory over red-hot Sinner but in addition a brush with a swarm of bees in his quarterfinal win over Alexander Zverev – the person who ousted him in Melbourne.
“Obviously winning a Masters 1000 again – it is a really difficult tournament to win – gives you extra motivation to keep going, extra, extra confidence for Miami right now and for what’s next,” stated Alcaraz, who joined compatriot Rafael Nadal as the one gamers to win 5 Masters 1000 titles earlier than turning 21.
World No. 4 Medvedev, who was hindered by an ankle damage of their 2023 title conflict, obtained off to a scorching begin on this one, parlaying a service break right into a 3-0 first-set lead.
But Alcaraz produced a blazing forehand passing shot to interrupt Medvedev within the fifth sport and from there they dueled to the tie-breaker with entertaining rallies spiced by drop photographs, volleys, and lobs.
Alcaraz had followers out of their seats in a single rally when he began to let a lob go by however, seeing it was heading in, managed to succeed in it and salvage the purpose.
“I’m trying to do that kind of points,” Alcaraz stated. “It gives me extra motivation.”
Trailing 5-2 within the tie-breaker, Australian Open runner-up Medvedev battled again to 5-5, however Alcaraz claimed the set when the Russian despatched a forehand vast and from there he was in full management.
“He managed in the first set at one moment to raise his level,” Medvedev stated. “I kind of managed to be there and to try to catch his level, but I was just a little bit down.”
“In the end, this down was going down, down, down, and he was going up, up, up.”
“So the result is a fair result for the match that it was. But I’m happy,” Medvedev added. “Last time I managed to (reach the final in Indian Wells) I won Miami – so that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
