Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev, for the final of the Indian Wells Masters 1000: minute by minute, live

In an explosive duel between former world number ones,

and 

face off in search of their first title at the prestigious

.

The final has a special seasoning, because if the champion is the Spanish, he will snatch the top of the ATP ranking from the Serbian

.

Although the Russian could also celebrate an unprecedented achievement, because he would add his fourth title in five weeks, something that no one has achieved since Andy Murray at the end of 2016. 

Alcaraz defeated Italian

7-6 (4) 6-3 in his semifinal on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Medvedev got rid of the American

7-5, 7-6 (4), but he had to work hard to do it, because his rival managed to save seven match points. 

Both the 19-year-old Spaniard and the 27-year-old Russian arrive full of joy at this clash between figures with antagonistic playing styles.

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Alcaraz, with his offensive, risky and dizzying tennis, has not given up a single set on his tour of the Californian desert, where he longs to enter a select list of winners in which the five titles of Federer and Djokovic shine, and the three of Nadal.

On his side Medvedev, a defensive specialist, accumulates a streak of

, with titles in Rotterdam, Dubai and Doha, and in Indian Wells he has resisted several physical mishaps to settle his pending account in this contest, in which he had never before passed the round of 16.

"I am an ambitious guy. I want to play against the best players in the world," Alcaraz stressed.

"I always say that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best and I would say that Daniil is the best player right now", he completed.

The precedents between the two are limited to a comfortable victory in three sets by Medvedev two years ago at Wimbledon, which the Muscovite does not trust at all.

"Definitely (Alcaraz) was not the same player that he is now," he stressed.

"In a way, it will be like a first match between us," she added.

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