With an impressive performance in the first two rounds of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, Carlos Alcaraz is once again proving his mettle on the tennis court. His exceptional connection with the tournament remains unscathed despite the organizers’ controversial decision to alter the playing surface after a quarter-century. The former world number one, initially skeptical about the surface change, eventually admitted having not noticed the difference unless informed. The courts, he remarked, were as slow as before, if not slower, and the bounce was as high as ever.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, aiming for a hat-trick of trophies in California, has been demonstrating an unbeatable game, leaving little room for Quentin Halys and Denis Shapovalov to shine. The fluctuations that had been affecting his performance at the onset of the 2025 season seemed to have abated.
However, Alcaraz’s true test lies ahead with the round of 16 match against Grigor Dimitrov, who recently triumphed over French veteran Gael Monfils in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament so far. The tables turned in Alcaraz’s rivalry with Dimitrov in the latter part of 2023, after a period of Alcaraz’s dominance.
Dimitrov, who had a shaky start to the new season due to injuries, has previously bested the Spaniard at the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters and the 2024 Miami Open. His performance at last year’s Miami Open left Alcaraz, who hails from Murcia, astounded.
Reflecting on that match during a recent press conference at Indian Wells, Alcaraz, currently the world’s No. 3, admitted Dimitrov’s game in Miami was nothing short of extraordinary. The control Dimitrov exhibited and his easy victory left Alcaraz feeling outclassed, likening the experience to his early days as a 13-year-old, learning the game. He confessed his team was at a loss, unable to identify any weaknesses in Dimitrov’s gameplay.
As Alcaraz readies himself for a rematch against Dimitrov, he finds comfort in the familiarity of the Indian Wells tournament, where he had previously triumphed twice, exhibiting near-flawless tennis. With revenge on his mind, this contest promises to be a thrilling one that tennis fans won’t want to miss.
