Carlos Alcaraz, ranked second worldwide, successfully defended his Indian Wells title, securing a victory in straight sets against Daniil Medvedev, mirroring last year’s final outcome.
At 20 years old, Alcaraz overcame the fourth-ranked Russian with scores of 7-6 (7-5) and 6-1, marking his first triumph since winning Wimbledon in July. The victory was particularly meaningful for the Spanish athlete, who had recently recovered from an ankle injury that led to his withdrawal from the Rio Open last month.
Expressing his affection for the tournament, Alcaraz shared with Sky Sports, “I love playing here – it’s so special for me.” He highlighted the significance of this year’s win, noting the uncertainty he faced about his performance due to the ankle injury. Despite these challenges, Alcaraz was pleased with his ability to surmount these obstacles, attributing his recovery to diligent off-court efforts.
Alcaraz’s journey to the title was not without its unique challenges, including an interruption in his quarter-final match against Alexander Zverev due to a bee sting on his forehead. Despite trailing 3-0 against Medvedev, Alcaraz rallied to win the first set in a tie-break and then dominated the second set by breaking serve twice. This victory not only earned him his 13th career title but also distinguished him as the first player to win back-to-back Indian Wells titles since Novak Djokovic’s consecutive wins from 2014 to 2016.
Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz acknowledged the initial pressure but credited his improved play to his ability to remain calm and manage his emotions.
