In an explosive duel between former world number ones, the young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Russian Daniel Medvedev face this Sunday in search of their first title of the prestigious Masters of Indian Wells 1000 (California). It will be from 20:00 (Argentina time), with ESPN television and with the addition that if the Spanish is the champion, he will snatch the top of the ATP ranking from the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz defeated the Italian in his semifinal match on Saturday Jannik sinner by 7-6 (4) and 6-3, while Medvedev got rid of the American Frances Tiafoe of 7-5 and 7-6 (4).
Both the 19-year-old Spaniard and the 27-year-old Russian come full of glee to this clash of figures with antagonistic playing styles.
Alcaraz, with his risky and dizzying offensive tennis, hasn’t given up a single set on his tour of the Californian desert, where he wants to join a shortlist of winners in which Federer’s and Djokovic’s five titles shine, and Nadal’s three .
On his side Medvedev, a defensive specialist, builds up a streak of victories 19 wins in a rowwith titles in Rotterdam, Dubai and Doha, and at Indian Wells, he weathered several physical setbacks to settle his large Masters 1,000 hard-court bill.
“I’m an ambitious guy. I want to play against the best players in the world,” stressed Alcaraz. “I always say if you want to be the best you have to beat the best and I would say Daniil is the best player right now,” he concluded.
The precedents between the two are limited to a comfortable victory in three sets by Medvedev two years ago at Wimbledon, which the Muscovite does not trust at all.
“Definitely (Alcaraz) wasn’t the same player he is now,” he stressed. “In a way, it will be like a first match between us,” she added.
In the first semifinal, Medvedev once again used his spectacular moment to defeat Frances Tiafoe and the nearly 16,000 fans who passionately supported the American.
Tiafoe, a semifinalist at the last US Open, managed to save seven match points but was unable to extend the match to the third set.
Source: Clarin
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