The sky is the only limit for
Carlos Alcaraz
.
The Spaniard, barely 19 years old, seems destined to become a world tennis legend and every time he takes the court, he reaffirms it.
His passage through the
Indian Wells Masters 1000
was no exception.
In the Californian desert, he once again broke records, delighted with his extraordinary talent and celebrated a title with a doubly sweet taste.
Because with his 6-3, 6-2 victory against the Russian
Daniil Medvedev
in the final, he won the eighth title of his career - the third in this category - and also regained the number one in the world.
The Murcian knew in advance that only a consecration would allow him to climb back to the top of the ranking, which he had reached for the first time in September of last year and which he lost to Novak Djokovic, after the Serbian's celebration in
Australia
. in january.
But without putting any pressure on himself -
"I just think about the things I have to do in every game
," he said over and over again in the last two weeks - he advanced steadily and ended up meeting the objective.
"This win means a lot to me. Recovering the number 1 is crazy. But above all, I'm happy to lift this trophy, I love this tournament," said the Spaniard.
He swept, without losing sets, against the Australian
Thanasi Kokkinakis
, the Dutch
Tallon Griekspoor
, the British
Jack Draper
(retired injured in the second set), the Canadian
Felix Auger Aliassime
(whom he had never been able to beat before this contest) and the Italian
Jannik Sinner
to reach the final.
Along the way, he broke records and wrote his name in some historical statistics.
He achieved, for example, his 100th victory on the circuit, by beating Griekspoor, and became the second player who needed the fewest games to reach that figure (132), among those who came to occupy No. 1. Only the American
John McEnroe
used fewer games than him to reach the hundred, 131st.
The victory against Auger-Aliassime, the 26th of his career in a Masters 1000 (a figure that, after the final, he left at 28), positioned him as the second teenager with the most celebrations in this category, only behind Rafael Nadal
,
who he got 49 before he was 20 years old.
In the final, the film was the same as in the previous rounds.
The Murcian demolished Medvedev in just over an hour and ten minutes of action and ended an impressive unbeaten streak.
Alcaraz's champion cry, who will climb back to the top of the ranking.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The Russian had arrived in California at a great moment and was looking to add his fourth title and extend an impressive streak, which with the fall was 19 victories in 33 days.
But he was far from his best level, he made too many mistakes and had no response against a Spaniard who was master of the match from the first to the last game.
"It's incredible to have competed like this for 10 days. I'm happy with my performance and I hope to continue like this in Miami", analyzed the champion.
The consecration made Alcaraz the second player to win three or more Masters 1000 crowns as a teenager.
Carlitos added that of Indian Wells to those of
Miami
and
Madrid
2022. Who did he join in that curious statistic?
Nothing less than Rafa, who lifted six trophies of that level at that stage of his life.
The native of El Palmar also became the youngest tennis player -and the ninth in history- to shout champion in the two events of the
Sunshine Double
, Indian Wells and Miami.
These milestones were added to the list of precociousness records that the Murcian has been feeding since he broke into the circuit just over three seasons ago.
The most amazing were the ones he achieved last year by becoming the youngest tennis player to reach number one in the world - by winning his first Grand Slam at the
US Open
- and closing a season in that privileged place.
Twenty weeks Alcaraz spent at the top.
The injury that forced him to wait until February to start his 2023 ended up costing him the top as well.
But after recovering, he started with everything.
The Murcian has played three tournaments, with two titles (he won in
Buenos Aires
, in his first commitment of the year) and a final (he lost in Rio with
Cameron Norrie
).
He accumulates a record of 14 wins and one loss.
And he is, again, the number one in the world.
His stay at the top could be short this time.
Because he will have to defend the title in Miami (which starts on Wednesday) so as not to be displaced again by Djokovic.
But at least for two more weeks, Alcaraz is again in the first step of the ranking.
Higher he cannot climb.
Although for Carlitos, there seems to be no limits.
look also
A phenomenal Alcaraz demolished Medvedev in the Indian Wells final and is again number 1 in the world
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Iga Swiatek, the number 1 in the world on and off the pitch