Alcaraz reaches first ATP Masters quarter-final, meets defending champ Norrie next

The 18-year-old Spaniard, who has now won eight matches on the trot and 16 of his last 17 matches, holds a 1-0 edge in head-to-head against Norrie

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) in his quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Image Credit : AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

March 17, 2022

ATP Indian Wells Masters 1000 | Results | Schedule

The 18-year-old Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz, reached another milestone in his young career on Wednesday by advancing to his first ATP Masters Series quarter-final with a straight-sets win over Frenchman Gael Monfils. The win sets up an exciting clash with defending champion Cameron Norrie, who got the better of tricky American Jenson Brooksby in the evening match.

Alacarz and Monfils stayed close in the first set, with both players holding their serve through 5-5. From there, it was all one-way traffic with Alcaraz winning eight of the last nine games to complete the 7-5, 6-1 win in one hour and 17 minutes.

The win makes Alacarz the youngest men’s quarter-finalist at Indian Wells since 17-year-old American Michael Chang in 1989 and extends his winning streak to eight matches in a row, after the Spaniard won the Rio Open title in February. Alcaraz is now 11-1 for the season and has won 16 of his last 17 matches , dating back to the Next Gen Finals at the end of last season.

“It means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said after his win as quoted by the ATP Tour. “It’s really special to be in the quarter-finals in a Masters 1000. I’m really proud of the level that I’m playing this tournament. I love this tournament and being in the quarter-finals here is pretty good.”

This celebration is here to stay 😛

@alcarazcarlos03 #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/9yUeDaaTrM
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 17, 2022

Norrie will be aiming to avenge US Open loss to Alcaraz

Alacaraz next gets defending champion Cameron Norrie, who won the delayed 2021 edition of the event held in October. Playing under the lights. Norrie won his ninth consecutive match in Indian Wells, coming from 0-3 down in the second set to complete a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Jenson Brooksby on one hour and 38 minutes.