Carlos Alcaraz won this Sunday the title of Indian Wells when crushing the Russian Daniil Medvedevwho was wearing 19 games in a row winning, and also recoveredthe number one in the worldwhich was in the possession of the Serb Novak Djokovic.
In yet another amazing milestone for his already extraordinary career, the young Spaniard swept the final of the first Masters 1000 of the season by giving an impressive recital and winning by 6-3 y 6-2 in one hour and 11 minutes to a Medvedev who was the most fit tennis player on the circuit and who had won three consecutive tournaments (Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai).
At just 19 years old, Alcaraz already has three Masters 1000 titles in his showcase (Miami, Madrid and Indian Wells) as well as a US Open.
The Murcian joined Rafa Nadal as the only player in history to score three Masters 1000 before his 20th birthday (the Spaniard got 6).
They are overwhelming triumph in the californian desertwhere he did not concede a single set despite the fact that he had been recovering from a hamstring injury since the final in Rio de Janeiro, also returned him to the top of the ATP ranking.
In a men’s tennis thirsty for new figures to take over from the historic Nadal-Federer-Djokovic trio, the irruption of Alcaraz has been a phenomenon with five titles in 2022 and two already in the first quarter of 2023 (Buenos Aires and Indian Wells).
In addition, in 2022 it will became the youngest player to reach world number one.
In Indian Wells, Alcaraz once again gave a master class in poise, serenity and nerves of steel in the great moments and was not intimidated by the streak of a Medvedev who reached the final and who had only been measured once with defeat in the second round of Wimbledon in 2021.
But less than two years later, this Alcaraz is no longer a promise but a tennis star with all his letters and his next appointment is in Miami, where he will defend his title won last year.
Djokovic, absent in Indian Wells, will not play in the Florida tournament either since he cannot enter the US because he has not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
alcatraz exhibit
On a cloudy Sunday, with pleasant temperatures and intermittent gusts of wind, Alcaraz faced the final of what is known as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ with a voracious appetite and with the support of a practically full center court, with some Spanish flags and who dedicated a standing ovation as soon as he left the changing room tunnel.
With a dry ‘let’s go’, Alcaraz celebrated his first game from the serve and with a great crossed backhand he achieved his first ‘break’ in a seen and not seen (2-0).
Faced with the shocking concentration and security of AlcarazMedvedev started very cold and far from the robustness that has turned him, in the words of the Murcian in the previous one, into “practically a wall”.
Alcaraz, aware that he had to play patiently and without showing weakness against the Russian giant of 1.98 metersmoved Medvedev with great ease from the beginning.
Furthermore, the man from El Palmar brought out his lush catalog of hits, with exquisite drop shots, straight as shells and a strong serve; and he boasted an infinite capacity for resistance to reach some points that seemed impossible.
Increasingly in love with the Spaniard, the Indian Wells crowd let out a few murmurs and gasps of admiration when Alcaraz embroidered some rallies within the reach of only the chosen ones.
There was no news of a Medvedev disallowed in the first set and Alcaraz, with 10 winners (only 2 from his rival), sealed the first round by going to the net after 35 minutes and with formidable authority.
Far from the resilience that he had shown in recent weeks, Medvedev was paralyzed, had no ability to react and collapsed in the face of Hurricane Alcaraz.
In this way, the native of Moscow lost his first two turns to serve in the second set against an Alcaraz who did not stop punishing him and again and again with cannon shots to the line or with delicious drop shots (4-0).
Without having to solve a single ‘break’ option against throughout the final, Alcaraz, with 19 winning shots against only 4 of his opponent, put the direct and overwhelmingly resolved one more major victory for a record It doesn’t stop growing and growing.
