For the second consecutive yr, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev confronted off for the BNP Paribas Open championship at Indian Wells, and as soon as once more, Alcaraz emerged victorious, securing the trophy with a 7-6(5) 6-1 victory in Sunday’s closing.
After relinquishing his opening service recreation of the match, the Spaniard crafted his manner again into the set, ultimately claiming it through a tiebreak.
From there, he by no means seemed again, freewheeling to the title by breadstick-ing Medvedev within the second set with a high-paced show to say his fifth profession Masters 1000 title in 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Match Stats
Daniil Medvedev
Carlos Alcaraz
Aces
3
3
Double Faults
3
1
1st Serve Proportion
61%
65%
1st Serve Factors Gained
63% (30/48)
75% (30/40)
2nd Serve Factors Gained
45% (14/31)
68% (15/22)
Break Factors Saved
70% (7/10)
50% (1/2)
1st Return Factors Gained
25% (10/40)
38% (18/48)
2nd Return Factors Gained
32% (7/22)
55% (17/31)
Break Factors Transformed
50% (1/2)
30% (3/10)
Winners
11
23
Unforced Errors
14
11
Web Factors Gained
60% (12/20)
50% (9/18)
Max Factors In Row
4
7
Service Factors Gained
56% (44/79)
73% (45/62)
Return Factors Gained
27% (17/62)
44% (35/79)
Complete Factors Gained
43% (61/141)
57% (80/141)
Max Video games In Row
3
5
Service Video games Gained
67% (6/9)
90% (9/10)
Return Video games Gained
10% (1/10)
33% (3/9)
Complete Video games Gained
37% (7/19)
63% (12/19)
Highlights
Ideas on the Closing
Alcaraz headed in as the massive betting favorite, and after a gradual begin, when his footwork seemed barely out of canter, he pulled it collectively and reeled Medvedev in.
I assumed the Russian did a fairly good job within the first set of holding it shut and forcing a tiebreak, however he by no means actually had a path to win simple factors.
Meddy began the match with a transparent tactic of sticking tight on the baseline and making an attempt to go large on his forehand, which was not too dissimilar to how he performed the Australian Open closing.
That tactic labored nicely for 3 video games. Nevertheless, as soon as Alcaraz received going, the writing was on the wall. Medvedev couldn’t discover a manner by means of him, so factors have been all on the Spaniard’s racket.
Based mostly on that, I don’t suppose Medvedev can go away too disenchanted. He confirmed on the US Open that when situations are extra beneficial and his recreation is on track, he can greater than compete. However Indian Wells is Alcaraz’s area, because the desert situations and gritty floor favour his recreation.
The one actual factor for his workforce to take a look at can be his serve, which has been a little bit of a legal responsibility this season. En path to the ultimate in Australia and Indian Wells, he dropped serve 39 occasions 😲 which is just too frequent.
There have been three extra breaks as we speak, and Alcaraz took his second serve to the cleaners, successful 55% of second-serve return factors, which was one key to the result. Alcaraz additionally returned 84% of Medvedev’s first serves.
From Alcaraz’s facet, he began poorly, making too many unforced errors, however as soon as he settled, he was superior in all areas, successful 68% behind his second serve, which exhibits he dominated nearly all of the rallies.
His athleticism and court docket protection are at all times the standout elements of his recreation, and also you’ll see them within the spotlight reel, however he performed a tactically astute match by various his return place and switching the speeds on his groundstrokes.
His common forehand velocity was solely 69mph, eight mph slower than Medvedev’s, which confirmed how a lot he blended it up, throwing within the slower prime spin balls and even going for the forehand slice to try to draw the unforced error.
Successful this event meant rather a lot to me as a result of the week earlier than it started, I had a whole lot of doubts about my ankle. I keep in mind my first follow right here was simply half-hour with no motion and doubtless the primary follow with actually good tennis gamers was actually powerful for me, as a result of I assumed I used to be not going to play my greatest. I used to be not feeling nicely with my ankle, so a whole lot of doubts for me. However as soon as I stepped on the court docket, the primary spherical, I began to really feel higher. Alcaraz in his on court docket interview.
Alcaraz leaves California as solely the second participant ever to win 5+ Masters 1000s earlier than the age of 21, and he pockets a cool $1,100,000 in prize cash (a lot much less after taxes, in fact). He’s additionally the red-hot favorite to seize his first Sunshine Double in Miami, which begins later this week.
What did you make of the ultimate? Let me know within the feedback.
