Carlos Alcaraz becomes 3rd teenager to reach multiple finals at the Sunshine Double, edges closer to dethroning Novak Djokovic as World No. 1
Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the final of the BNP Paribas Open by beating Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3 on Saturday (March 18).
Alcaraz produced a fine display of tennis to reach his third Masters 1000 final. He has an impressive 13-1 win-loss record this season.
Having won the Miami Masters last season, the Spaniard has now reached his second final at the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) as a teenager, becoming only the third player to do so.
Others to have attained this feat include former World No. 1s Andre Agassi in 1990 and Novak Djokovic in 2007. Both players were the runners-up at Indian Wells before winning in Miami.
3 - Making the Indian Wells final with victory over Jannik Sinner, @carlosalcaraz has become the third player in history to make multiple finals at the Sunshine Double as a teenager, following Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic. Prolific.
#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @atptour https://t.co/O2ByKVmtLX
Carlos Alcaraz also has a chance to dethrone Djokovic as World No. 1. The Spaniard surrendered the top spot after the Serb won the Australian Open in January. However, he can reclaim it by winning Sunday's final at Indian Wells.
With a win on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz will regain the World No. 1 over Novak Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz to face Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells Masters final
Carlos Alcaraz will face Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday (March 19). This will be the second meeting between the pair, with the Russian emerging victorious in their previous encounter at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships (6-4, 6-1, 6-2).
Speaking ahead of the big match, Alcaraz said he was expecting a tough and tactical battle against Medvedev and would have to do "everything perfect" in order to win.
"Ah. Well, I know if I win tomorrow I'm gonna become the No. 1. Well, I will try not to think about that, just to, as I said, just to think about the things that I have to do, you know," Alcaraz said.
"Tomorrow I would say gonna be a really tactic match against Daniil, it's gonna be really tough. I have to make, let's say, everything perfect. That's all I'm gonna think tomorrow. But, you know, it could be great to win tomorrow, of course," he added.
If Alcaraz is victorious on Sunday, he will lift his third Masters 1000 title while also becoming the youngest champion in Indian Wells since Boris Becker in 1987.
If Medvedev triumphs, he will clinch his fourth successive title and extend his winning streak to 20 matches. The 27-year-old would also become the first Russian man to win at Indian Wells.