© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
World no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz defended his Indian Wells title following a 7-6, 6-1 triumph over Daniil Medvedev in an hour and 42 minutes. Two rivals met in the title clash in the desert for the second straight year, and the young gun brought the win home after a tight opener and a dominant display in set number two.
Thus, the Spaniard lifted his first ATP trophy since Wimbledon last year and celebrated his fifth Masters 1000 crown at 20. Also, he defended his no. 2 spot from Jannik Sinner, whom he beat in the semi-final. Alcaraz overpowered Medvedev on serve and return, playing against two break points in the opener and suffering an early break.
He erased it and delivered three break breaks from ten opportunities, doing enough to seal the deal in straight sets.
Unlike a year ago, Daniil stepped in on the return and took the ball early.
It kept him in contention in the opener, but his strokes could not harm the defending champion, who had the upper hand in the shortest and mid-range exchanges. The Russian fired 11 winners and 23 unforced errors, while the Spaniard counted 24 winners and 26 mistakes, taming his strokes nicely and landing more service winners than his opponent.
Carlos played better behind the first and second serve in the first set, playing against two break points and losing serve once in the early stages. Medvedev denied four out of five break points, standing two points away from the set before losing it after 69 minutes.
Carlos had more service winners and the upper hand in the shortest range up to four strokes.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final.
Daniil made a reliable start, holding at love in the first game of the encounter and seizing the second break chance in game two after Carlos’ backhand error for an early advantage.
The Russian faced issues in the third game, playing against three break points and denying them before holding after the Spaniard’s forehand mistake for 3-0 after 17 minutes. Alcaraz placed his name on the scoreboard with a service winner in game four and squandered Medvedev’s game point in the next one.
Daniil hit a double fault and netted a forehand, offering Carlos a break chance. The Spaniard converted it with a cracking forehand winner, pulling the break back and reducing the deficit to 3-2. They served well in the next three games, staying neck and neck at 4-4.
Medvedev denied a break point in the ninth game, and the set reached a tie break after Alcaraz’s hold at love. The Spaniard moved 3-0 up and forged a 5-2 lead, moving closer to the set.
The Russian climbed back to 5-5 before world no. 2 grabbed the last two points, moving in front and gaining a massive boost. Alcaraz dominated set number two, serving well and clinching two breaks to control the scoreboard and move over the top.
Daniil saved two break points in the second game and squandered a game point, offering Carlos the third break chance and getting broken to find himself a set and a break down. Alcaraz held for 3-0 and produced a hold at love in game five to remain in front.
The Spaniard broke the Russian at 15 in the sixth game, forging a 5-1 advantage and serving for the title. Carlos held at 15 in game seven, clinching 12 of the final 14 points and celebrating his fifth Masters 1000 title at 20.
