DEFENDING champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner on Saturday to set up an Indian Wells final against Daniil Medvedev.
Alcaraz’s 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory ended Sinner’s 19-match winning streak, including a 16-0 start to the year, and ensured Alcaraz remains ranked second in the world next week.
“To be able to end something like this, it’s incredible for me,” said Spain’s Alcaraz about ending Italy’s streak.
Sunday’s final against fourth-ranked Russian Medvedev was a repeat of last year’s title match.
Medvedev also had to fight hard in his 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win over 17th-ranked American Tommy Paul. In the final, he will look to thwart Alcaraz’s bid to become the first Indian Wells ATP champion to achieve two straight wins since Novak Djokovic won three straight titles from 2014-2016.
Alcaraz and Sinner’s semi-final was disrupted by a three-hour rain delay at 2-1 in the first set but it proved worth the wait as both young stars put on a show.
Also read: Sinner Buries Alcaraz’s Dreams
“Matches with Jannik are always special,” said Alcaraz.
“We know we have to play at our highest level to win. We have to provide magic on the pitch, incredible points and for the crowd it is also amazing.”
Sinner quickly took the initiative when play resumed, winning four straight games to tie the first set.
Also read: Medvedev enters the 2023 Miami Open top party
He saved the only break point he faced, and got an insurance break to take a 5-1 lead, attacking the short ball for a superb winner across the net on break point.
Alcaraz turned things around in the second set with a clever change of style, dropping back to give himself more time on returns and gradually working his way into the match.
He broke Sinner’s serve with a deep backhand volley winner for a 3-1 lead and held serve for 4-1 in a game that brought the crowd to its feet in applause for a thrilling rally at the net.
Also read: Alcaraz returns to number 1 after winning Indian Wells
He saved break points in the seventh and ninth games before closing out the set with a drop-shot winner.
“My mentality remains strong,” said Alcaraz. “I think that’s a very important part of the game.
“This type of match, lost sets playing against someone who plays an incredible game – I’m very happy with the things I did.
Also read: Alcaraz and Medvedev Fight for Title in Indian Wells Final
“I changed my style a little bit, I changed my game a little bit, and I think it worked out really, really well,” said Alcaraz, who is chasing his first title since winning Wimbledon last year.
Sinner’s errors compounded in the third set and Alcaraz broke in the third game, delivering a high backhand volley to end another scrambling rally.
World number three Sinner, who had dived to get the ball back, got up shaking his right arm and rubbing his right elbow.
Also read: Medvedev Wins Entrance Ticket to the 2023 Indian Wells Masters Final
Suddenly he was powerless to stop Alcaraz, who won five straight games, securing the match with a forehand winner.
This was the second year in a row that Alcaraz stopped Sinner in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.
“It’s certainly not the ending I wanted, but playing against him, it’s always tough,” Sinner said. “I tried to play good tennis, which I did, especially in the first set.
Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Edges Out Jannik Sinner in Epic Battle in the Semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters
“Then I made some mistakes. The momentum changed. He raised his level.”
Medvedev said the cold evening conditions made it difficult to find a rhythm in the opening set against Paul, but like Alcaraz, he was able to make some adjustments.
He won the first four games of the second set but Paul attacked the net aggressively to reduce it and force a tiebreaker, where Paul rolled over his feet on the sixth point.
Also read: Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner match in Indian Wells semifinals continues after rain delay
Medvedev won the final five tiebreaker points to level the match and grabbed a 5-1 lead in the third set, eventually holding a pair of break points in the final game to close it out.
His reward is a chance to avenge last year’s loss to Alcaraz and capture the only one of his six Masters 1000 titles on hard courts that he has never won.
“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 to the lines, hit more aces, things like that,” Medvedev said . “Hopefully I can do it.” (AFP/Z-3)
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