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When the draw was made and the main contender’s paths projected, the possibility of the two young bucks set to take over at the top of the game could clash in the semi-finals of the BNP Paripas Open (better known as the Indians Wells Masters), was a mouth-watering prospect.
I changed my style a little bit, I changed my game a little bit and I think it worked very well. I’m really happy to beat Jannik and be in the final again Carlos Alcaraz
And luckily for fans, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner did make the last four and as hoped, produced a thrilling match which saw the Spanish 20-year-old, as defending campion. get the better of the Italian aged 22, but he had to recover from a slow start, an early rain interruption and some powerful hitting from his rival before closing it out after two-hours and five minutes of play, 1-6 6-3 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner wrangle at the net!
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The match brought out the best in both players but what was most interesting to watch, was Alcaraz’s greater variety and the way he adapted his game during the semi, to defeat the in-form Sinner who has hasn’t lost a match (16) all season and was aiming to replace his rival as world No.2!
“I stayed strong mentally,” Alcaraz said pointing his head. “I think that’s a really important part in this game. You have to be strong mentally if you want to overcome these kind of matches, a set down against someone that’s playing an unbelievable game. I’m really happy with the things that I’ve done after that.
“I changed my style a little bit, I changed my game a little bit and I think it worked very well. I’m really happy to beat Jannik and be in the final again.”
The pair stepped on court and before the match could settle, the rains came forcing the players off court with Sinner leading. On their return after a three-hour break, the Italian quickly took charge to dominate with a run of four consecutive games to pocket the opening set in 37-minutes.
Sinner faced just one break point in that opener, saving it at 3-1 as he controlled play moving Alcaraz around the baseline hitting six winners to the Spaniard’s one.
But then Alcaraz started to review his approach. He fought through a deuce game to hold serve in the opening game of the second set to finally get his side of the scoreboard moving for the first time since returning from the rain break.
He introduced more variety into his game and while both of them showcased their talent around the court, including some excellent exchanges at the net, Alcaraz saved break points at 4-2 and 5-3 and then levelling the match at a set-all with a delicate and unreachable drop shot.
“I had defended better than I did in the first set,” was what he attributed his comeback to, explaining: “I had to put more balls in, try to stay strong on the court… I changed my return style. I was more on the back of the court, putting some returns in, getting myself more in the rallies.”
Once on a roll Alcaraz is difficult to stop and, for the second time at the Tennis Paradise, inflicted a defeat on his rival at the semi-final stage and is now poised to retain the title he then went on to win in 2023.
It is his sixth Masters 1000 final having won five of them and he has denied Sinner, who has only won one, the possibility of a fourth final at that level. It is also Alcaraz’s first final since last August’s Cincinnati when he lost to Novak Djokovic in what was ahigh quality match, and, if he can successfully defend it, it will be his first title since beating Djokovic for the Wimbledon crown.
Daniil Medvedev reaches final for a second consecutive year
(Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
Challenging him for that title for a second time is Daniil Medvedev, the Russian he beat in straight sets in last year’s final — and it should be an intriguing encounter.
Medvedev ended all hopes of an American champion for the first time since 2001 (Andre Agassi) when he ended Tommy Paul’s excellent run at this year’s event.
Paul kept him busy for two=hours and 25-minutes before conceding the final place 1-6 7-6(3) 6-2 in the evening match.
“It was very tough. When it’s evening and cold here, it’s very tough to go through the serve,” Medvedev said on being broken in all three of his first-set service games. “I understood that, and he played an unbelievable first set. So I was like, OK, if I want to win I just have to try to do a little bit better to find the shot that’s going to make him in trouble. I found some, especially on my serve.
“Then the match started to be a long fight. Even in the third set, it was 6-2, but it was very, very long games and I think it was a long set. So I’m really happy to be able to pull this out.”
The match turned in the tiebreak with Paul, when serving at 3-2, twisted his ankle during a tight exchange of shots while attempting to retrieve a Russian volley.
The American had his ankle re-taped before the third but quickly found himself down a double break as Medvedev continued to fend off his varied attacks. Paul kept the pressure on by creating two break points at both 4-1 and 5-2, but Medvedev had just enough answers to close out the match.
As regards the final, Medvedev trails Alcaraz 2-3 with the Spaniard winning three of their four meetings in 2023.
“I saw Carlos today, he was playing pretty well, second and third set especially,” Medvedev admitted. “I know what happened last year so I’m going to try my best to try to turn this around, to play better, to play stronger, more on the lines, hit more aces, stuff like this. Hopefully I will be able to do it. I will recover and get ready for the fight tomorrow.”
The pair should provide an excellent finale to the first Masters of the season.
Tommy Paul congratulates his conqueror Daniil Medvedev
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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