Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, poses with the trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, within the ultimate match on the BNP Paribas Open tennis match, on March 17, 2024, in Indian Wells
| Picture Credit score: AP
Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Indian Wells stuffed with doubt about his twisted proper ankle. He is leaving as a two-time champion.
He defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1 for the second straight yr within the BNP Paribas Open ultimate on Sunday, incomes his first title since profitable Wimbledon final yr.
Iga Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in simply over an hour to win the ladies’s title, with Swiatek shedding simply 21 video games in six matches in the course of the 12-day match — a median of three.5 video games per match.
Alcaraz sprained his ankle on the Rio Open in late February. His first apply at Indian Wells lasted half-hour with none motion. His first apply along with his fellow professionals “was actually robust for me,” he mentioned in a Tennis Channel interview.
Alcaraz outlasted Jannik Sinner in a three-set semifinal after needing three units to get out of his second-round match.
“After each match I used to be feeling higher,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I used to be getting extra assured after each match. Successful a Grasp 1000 once more, a very essential match to win, provides you motivation to maintain going.”
First since Djokovic
Alcaraz grew to become the primary man to defend his Indian Wells title since Novak Djokovic received three in a row from 2014-16. He beat Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 final yr within the Southern California desert.
“It is undoubtedly your courtroom, you prefer it right here,” Medvedev informed Alcaraz in the course of the victory ceremony. “Hopefully you’ll be able to at some point let me play just a little bit higher right here.”
Medvedev led 3-0 within the first set whereas Alcaraz had eight unforced errors over these video games. The Spaniard received three video games in a row to tie it, 3-3.
The gamers held serve the remainder of the set, with Alcaraz serving a love sport to get into the tiebreaker. He led 3-0 and 5-2 earlier than Medvedev tied it 5-5. Alcaraz received the subsequent two factors to shut it out.
Alcaraz bought the one two breaks within the second set, when Medvedev had one winner and 9 errors.
For the match, Alcaraz hit 25 winners and had 26 unforced errors, whereas Medvedev had 11 winners and 23 unforced errors.
Swiatek dominant
Swiatek improved to 20-2 this yr, together with her wins main the WTA Tour. It was a repeat of the 2022 ultimate, during which Swiatek beat Sakkari 6-4, 6-1. Sakkari hasn’t defeated the Polish star since 2021.
Swiatek raced to a 3-0 lead within the opening set. Sakkari recovered to win three straight video games, together with a break of Swiatek. She served a love sport to tie it, 4-4. Swiatek misplaced simply two factors on her serve the remainder of the set, wrapping it up with a forehand winner within the nook.
Swiatek was extra dominant within the second set, breaking Sakkari thrice all in love video games. She misplaced simply 5 factors within the set.
Swiatek hit 15 winners and had 11 unforced errors within the 1 hour, 8-minute match. Sakkari had eight winners and 18 unforced errors.
Alcaraz and Swiatek earned $1.1 million every for his or her wins. That is lower than the $1.26 million the ladies’s and males’s champions acquired in 2023. This yr extra prize cash was allotted to the sooner rounds, decreasing the champions’ prize cash by almost 13%.
