ShareINDIAN WELLS: World number two Carlos Alcaraz cruised home in a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday to win a second straight Indian Wells ATP title, both coming at the Russian’s expense. Alcaraz captured his first title since Wimbledon last July and became the first repeat winner at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic won three straight titles from 2014-16.
For the 20-year-old Spaniard, 12 days in the California desert proved just what he needed after a stuttering start to the season, which included a quarter-final exit at the Australian Open and an ankle injury that forced him out of his opening match at Rio de Janeiro in February. “A lot of doubts for me,” he said of his mindset coming in amidst his longest title drought since he burst through for his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open.
For Alcaraz, however, it wasn’t just about ending the drought, it was about rediscovering his joy in the game. “It means a lot to me, lifting this trophy, winning this tournament, because I overcome a lot of problems in my head, a lot of problems physically,” he said.
“Not that I didn’t win a tournament since Wimbledon. For me, it doesn’t matter, It’s about the feelings ... It’s about enjoying playing tennis, once I step on the court, putting my game. It’s what only matters. “That’s why I’m really, really happy to lift this trophy, because I found myself at this tournament.”
As he did last year, Alcaraz denied Medvedev’s bid to capture the only one of the ATP’s six hardcourt Masters 1000 titles he has yet to win. More importantly, after a week in which he ended Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s 19-match winning streak, Alcaraz was looking forward with renewed confidence to next week’s hardcourt tournament in Miami and beyond. “Obviously winning tournaments helps a lot coming to the next ones,” said Alcaraz, whose tournament included not only a semi-final victory over red-hot Sinner but also a brush with a swarm of bees in his quarter-final win over Alexander Zverev — the man who ousted him in Melbourne.
“Obviously winning a Masters 1000 again — it is a really difficult tournament to win — gives you extra motivation to keep going, extra, extra confidence for Miami right now and for what’s next,” said Alcaraz, who joined compatriot Rafael Nadal as the only players to win five Masters 1000 titles before turning 21.
Earlier, Iga Swiatek has become used to rubbing shoulders with celebrities in two years at the top of women’s tennis, and if Hollywood A-lister Zendaya needs work with her game, the four-time Grand Slam champion will be happy to help. Zendaya and boyfriend and fellow actor Tom Holland were among the crowd Sunday as Poland’s Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 to win the prestigious Indian Wells WTA title for the second time.
After the match, Zendaya posed with Swiatek and her trophy. “For sure, meeting Zendaya was crazy, but on the other hand, she’s a human like all of us,” Swiatek said of the “Dune” star, who is also the star of the forthcoming tennis-themed “Challengers” movie.
In the film, Zendaya plays a former tennis prodigy turned coach whose tennis champion husband is in a slump. “I was just happy that she’s enjoying tennis and she’s, you know, having this movie with a tennis theme coming out,” Swiatek said.
“So that should be really exciting. She can practice with me any time if she wants to.” While Swiatek sounded far from star-struck, she said she was pleased to get a chance to meet the actress. “For sure it was fun and she’s a really great person,” Swiatek said. “I feel pretty privileged that I’m in this place where I can meet these kind of people.” — AFP
