Alcaraz stops Sinner in Indian Wells, through to first final since Cincinnati
Carlos Alcaraz knocked off Jannik Sinner in an entertaining three-set match on Saturday to reach the final of the Indian Wells Masters. Alcaraz awaits either Daniil Medvedev or Tommy Paul.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2024 | © Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Carlos Alcaraz ended Jannik Sinner‘s 19-match winning streak with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday afternoon. Sinner had been 16-0 this season and looked well on his way to another win following a dominant first set, but Alcaraz emphatically turned the tide to advance in two hours and five minutes.
The Spaniard will go up against Daniil Medvedev for the title on Sunday. The Russian dominated Tommy Paul for the title on Sunday.
Alcaraz starts slow after rain delay
A rain delay of almost three hours came with Alcaraz preparing to serve at 1-2 in the first set. When the two players finally returned, the 20-year-old was out of sorts. He double-faulted on break point to fall into a 3-1 hole and he also got broken at 1-4.
It was a dominant opening frame of play by a red-hot Sinner, who had been on a 19-match winning streak. The Italian was 29-1 in his last 30 matches overall dating back to the 2023 fall swing.
TIDE TURNS FOR ALCARAZ IN SETS TWO AND THREE
Suddenly, though, the momentum shifted and Sinner found himself in an unfamiliar position — on his back foot. Alcaraz played the next two sets with tactical perfection, returning from way behind the baseline to work his way into point but at the same time playing aggressive tennis at the right times once he was able to take control in a rally.
The second seed survived a deuce game to begin the second set and finally seized control with his first break of the day at 2-1. From there Alcaraz was off to the races. He was especially dominant in the third set, during which he lost a grand total of three service points.
You have to be strong mentally if you want to overcome these matches
Carlos Alcaraz
“I stayed strong mentally,” Alcaraz explained. “I think that was the really important part. You have to be strong mentally if you want to overcome these matches from a set down against someone who is playing an unbelievable game. I’m really happy with the things that I have done.
“I changed my style a little bit. I think it worked very, very well. I’m really happy to beat Jannik and obviously to be in another final again.”
The world No 2 — who will remain in that spot as a result of Saturday’s result — previously defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi (6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-1), Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 31 seed (6-2, 6-3), Hungarian Fabian Marozsan (6-3, 6-3) and German Alexander Zverev, the No 6 seed (6-3, 6-1).
Until it was finally halted, Sinner’s winning streak continued with defeats of Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis (6-3, 6-0), German Jan-Lennard Struff, the No 25 seed (6-3, 6-4), American Ben Shelton, the No 16 seed (7-6 (4), 6-1) and No 32 seed Jiri Lehecka (6-3, 6-3).
