Indian Wells: Alcaraz beats Sinner and will try to recover the number 1 ranking in the final against Medvedev

Carlos Alcaraz will play the final of this Sunday Indian wells before Russian Daniel Medvedev after defeating the Italian this Saturday Jannik sinnerwhich made things very difficult for him in the first set and which he gave in to the imposing power of the Spaniard in the second set.

Alcaraz, 19, defeated Sinner, 21, in the semifinals 7-6(4) and 6-3 in one hour and 52 minutes to qualify to the final of the first Masters 1000 it’s of the season.

After losing in the 2022 Indian Wells semi-finals to Rafael NadalAlcaraz will not only have the chance to be crowned in the Californian desert but, with a victory, he will also recover the world number one, now held by the Serbian Novak Djokovic.

A formidable challenge now stands in his way: a Medvedev in a state of grace that defeated the American in the semifinals Frances Tiafoe (7-5 and 6-4) and who won 19 games in a row and won three consecutive tournaments (Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai).

But the Murciano, who only played once against Medvedev (defeat in Wimbledon two years ago), is already used to the big spotlights and to amaze in the most demanding moments.

Alcaraz came to California with doubts due to the hamstring injury reported in the Rio de Janeiro final.

In any case, the youngster showed magnificent competitive spirit and a great ability to react, reaching the final without having lost a single set in this edition of Indian wells.

If he won in what is known as ‘fifth grand slam’Alcaraz would join Rafa Nadal as the second player in history to win three Masters 1000 before turning 20 (Nadal has won 6 and Alcaraz has already triumphed in Miami and Madrid).

In a practically full central field and with a few Spanish flags in the stands, alcaraz a Sinner has also been called to lead the new generation of tennis players and with whom he has already signed some sensational duels in the past.

“It was a great game. Jannik is a great player. He pushes me to improve, he makes me play at the highest level. That’s why we played great games,” said Alcaraz on the pitch as soon as the match was over.

Number 13 in the world rankings and with 2-2 in his four previous meetings against Alcaraz, Sinner had surpassed him in 2022 in the final in Umag and eliminated him in the round of 16 at Wimbledon.

However, in the quarterfinals of the US Open, Sinner bowed to Alcaraz after an exciting match that lasted more than five hours and ended at three in the morning in New York.

DISABLE SINNER

The Murciano warned in advance that “the most dangerous thing” about Sinner is the pressure and aggressiveness of his shots, which transform every exchange into a very difficult challenge.

Alcaraz has been very good at defining it ever since Sinner started the match by shooting very hard and without rationing efforts.

The Spaniard was not far behind, also very confident early on, and both players hit their first serves with relative ease.

The first moment of tension for Sinner came with a double fault which led to the first ‘break’ for Alcaraz (30-40 and 2-2), but took a direct kick from the sleeve to get away with it.

However, the Italian stumbles again with another double fault and, with a backhand on the net, grants the first break to the Spaniard (3-2).

Alcaraz’s joy didn’t last long, making several mistakes in a row and shortly after losing the goalless service (4-4).

both players have increased their benefits in several vibrant exchanges with masterful forehands, rock-hard jabs and cannon-like serves.

With the match marked by an intense draw, Sinner had a set point at rest after a couple of mistakes by Alcaraz, but the man from El Palmar saved it by going to the net and sending the first set to the ‘tie break’.

There Alcaraz ended up throwing his arms up, finer at key moments in a set that either of them could have taken and which he finished with a brilliant backhand that crossed the finish line.

The victory in the first set gave an important moral boost to Alcaraz, who started playing looser, more at ease, more fluid.

AS, student of Juan Carlos Ferrero he broke Sinner’s service in the first round of the second set and began to alternate very well with delicious drop shots, forehands as sharp as stingers and even a few lobs that fell from the sky at the right time.

Indeed, it was one of those perfect lobs that culminated in a wonderful exchange in which Alcaraz went up 3-0, leaving the Indian Wells crowd in awe.

Sinner did not throw in the towel until the end but in the end he succumbed to an Alcaraz who closed the match with great confidence and is now one step away from the glory of Indian Wells and number one in the world.