The Spaniard won in three sets on Saturday and will defend his title in a remake of the 2023 California Masters 1000 final.
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But 20/20 for Jannik Sinner. Winner of his last 19 matches since November and therefore unbeaten in 2024, the Italian was ousted by Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells on Saturday 16 March. After losing the first set (1-6, 6-3, 6-2), the Spaniard reached the final of the tournament he won last year. He will not be disoriented by the same opponent as in 2023, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who defeated the American Tommy Paul on his side.
Stunning Alcaraz
Once again, Carlos Alcaraz took the first jab in this matchup between two 20- and 22-year-old players who are slated for long-term tennis dominance. This time not by the bees, but by Sinner, who managed much better to organize the start of the game, which was thwarted by rain for more than three hours. Powerful and very precise in his choices, the Transalpinac made himself an aggressor on his service, as well as on the Murcian.
Carlos Alcaraz managed to react with a very high start to the second set. By no longer systematically responding to the challenge of his opponent’s length, but on the contrary, trying to break his rhythm, the world number two offered himself time to exchange and more tactical options such as his cushioning quality at the net. The first matches of this second round offered a great spectacle: “we put magic on the field, incredible points, and for the public it’s also wonderful“, assessed the Spaniard.
The spell didn’t last throughout the set, however, with Sinner appearing marked and even injured after diving to prevent a break at 1-1. Shot in the hand and embarrassed in the leg, the winner of the last Australian Open was no longer himself, letting the game and the streak of success slip away from him. “It’s amazing to me that I can finish something like thisgreeted Carlos Alcaraz. I stayed mentally strong. I think that is a very important element in this match. A match like this, a set down against someone who plays an incredible game, I’m really happy with what I did“.
Medvedev for revenge
He faces a new big challenge to become the first player to retain the Indian Wells title since Novak Djokovic between 2014 and 2016. In the final, he will find Daniil Medvedev, his victim from the last edition. The Russian had a night similar to that in Alcaraz, mostly losing the first set before turning the tide and seeing his opponent, American Tommy Paul, physically lose his footing after twisting his ankle in the second set tie break (1-. 6, 7- 6 (7-3), 6-2).
Daniil Medvedev, however, got a big scare, coming back to 5-5 in the second set after counting two breaks ahead. On the other hand, Tommy Paul delighted with his constant running towards the net, where he scored as many as 83% of the baskets in the entire game! Before his left ankle sounded the death knell for his hopes. “I know what happened last year, so I’m going to do my best to try to reverse the trend, play better, play harder, hit more lines, hit more aces, things like thatclaimed the vindictive Daniil Medvedev. I hope I can make it.“