Carlos Alcaraz breezed previous Daniil Medvedev to win the Indian Wells title and return to world primary.
Spaniard Alcaraz, 19, wanted just one hour 11 minutes to seal a 6-3 6-2 win that took him above Novak Djokovic on the prime of the ATP rankings.
It’s the US Open champion’s third profession Masters 1,000 title.
“It feels wonderful to carry the trophy right here, to get well the primary. I might say this has been the proper match,” Alcaraz mentioned.
Djokovic was compelled to withdraw from the tournament in California as a result of he was unable to enter the USA as a result of he isn’t vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19.
He may even miss this week’s Miami Open, the place Alcaraz is defending champion.
Alcaraz broke Russian Medvedev early within the opening set to open up a 3-0 lead and by no means regarded like relinquishing his grip on the match.
He gained the primary 10 factors of the second set to maneuver right into a 4-0 lead, earlier than sealing victory with out dealing with a break level.
“Daniil clearly did not play at his greatest degree, however I am very blissful for my efficiency and the way I performed this match,” mentioned Alcaraz.
“I anticipated a more durable match. Towards him is at all times a tactic match, and I did excellent right now. That is why it appears to be like simple – however it wasn’t.”
Alcaraz is barely the second participant after compatriot Rafael Nadal to win at the very least three Masters 1,000 titles as a young person.
He misplaced the world primary spot in January after Djokovic’s triumph on the Australian Open, which Alcaraz missed due to damage.
He returned to motion in February, successful the Argentina Open and reaching the ultimate of the Rio Open.
Alcaraz should efficiently defend his Miami Open title so as to keep on the prime of the rankings.
Defeat was Medvedev’s first in 19 matches, having come into the match on the again of successive wins in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
He struggled to deal with the windy situations in opposition to Alcaraz and in addition appeared hampered by an ankle damage suffered in his fourth-round win over Alexander Zverev in addition to a cut up thumb sustained within the quarter-finals in opposition to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“Why did not I play my greatest? I do not know,” mentioned Medvedev.
“Possibly it was his ball. Possibly it was the wind. The ankle, the thumb, the tennis, wind, no matter. However we virtually made it. I’ll attempt to be higher subsequent time.”
Nadal has dropped out of the world’s prime 10 for the primary time since April 2005 – a run of 912 consecutive weeks.
The 36-year-old, who has slipped to thirteenth, has not performed since injuring his left leg on the Australian Open, however is hoping to return on the clay of Monte Carlo subsequent month.
