In the distant duel with Jannik Sinner for second place on the world tennis podium, Carlos Alcaraz responded to last night's clear victory of the Italian over the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis by beating the Italian Matteo Arnaldi in his debut at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells .
A more difficult victory compared to the serene 6-3, 6-0 of the South Tyrolean, the 13th consecutive victory in 2024, because the world no. 2 had to recover the initial 6-7, then prevailing 6-0, 6 -1.
Inaccurate, very foul, Alcaraz rowed against the current for the entire first set.
After saving a set point, he succumbed to the tiebreaker with two unforced errors.
Arnaldi collapsed in the second, conceding a lot in the third too, even against a far from irresistible 'Carlitos'.
""I was a bit nervous, it was my first high intensity match after the ankle problem, I had difficulty concentrating completely - said Alcaraz -.
In the second and third sets I understood how to play, I served more first serves.
Raising my level in rallies, even long ones, was the key to the victory." In the third round, the no.2 will face the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, a rival of the level of the German Jan-Lennard Struff, destined to face tomorrow Sinner after eliminating the Croatian Borna Coric. The Italian said he was happy with his performance, because in his opinion it was "a difficult match, contrary to what the score says". Sinner is still without defeats in 2024 but considers it certainly "unbeatable.
I think I still need to improve many things, starting with the service.
I work hard to maintain myself at this level - assured the 22 year old -.
I have full confidence and hope to continue my streak as long as possible, but it may end soon.
The opponents know me better, this makes everything more complicated" he concluded. In the Italy-Spain match, again during the night, Roberto Carballes put an end to the path of Flavio Cobolli, defeated 6-4, 6-4. The Italian, n. 62 in the world has to postpone the first success in a Masters 1000. In the women's draw, the notable ones are the withdrawal due to intestinal problems of the holder of the trophy, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, n.4 in the world, and the surprise elimination of the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (n. .6) by the American n.131 in the world Katie Volynets (6-4, 6-4). Among the Italians on the court, Jasmine Paolini advances, who beat the German Tathiana Maria with a double 6-3. The 28 year old from Castenuovo di Garfagnana, n.14 WTA and 13th seed, will face the Russian Anna Kalinskaya, whom she beat a couple of weeks ago in the WTA 1000 final in Dubai, for a place in the round of 16. However, the journey has already stopped by Camila Giorgi, defeated 6-3, 7-5 by the Czech Linda Noskova (n.26).
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