Alcaraz Sets Medvedev Clash, Wears Bee Suit

Carlos Alcaraz says that Cameron Norrie is a difficult, tricky opponent to face. Norrie himself said he played as good as he could have hoped. 

The result in Thursday’s quarterfinal night session in Stadium 1? 

A resounding Alcaraz victory, 6-3, 6-4, that keeps Alcaraz unblemished on the season at 16-0. 

The Spaniard was flying, the stadium was packed, and at times all Norrie could do was try to play the foil. Credit to him, after dropping the first set 6-3, he moved up a break in the second. 

But he couldn’t hold on as Alcaraz turned on the style and made several highlight reel worthy shots to reclaim the break and add another. From there Norrie, pushed for a break back, but Alcaraz had the answer, as the Spaniard finished off the high-energy tussle to set a semifinal with Daniil Medvedev. 

Medvedev said he feels that he’s playing some of his best tennis ever, and he’ll need to be on Saturday as he clashed with Alcaraz for the third time at Indian Wells. Both of those matches were finals, won in straight sets by the Spaniard in 2023 and 2024. In total, Alcaraz has won six of eight against Medvedev, and each of their last four tilts. 

Medvedev, who took out Jack Draper in a match with a controversial ending on Thursday, 6-1, 7-5, hopes he can challenge Alcaraz. 

“I feel like I’m playing great, very good tennis,” said Medvedev. I never want to jump into conclusions like best tennis of my life or whatever. I’m playing very well.

“I feel like the court is a bit faster since the two times I have played him. The balls are different. So I feel like it’s a good chance to try to, you know, to show my best tennis against him.”

Alcaraz appears to be loose and in a state of free flow. After his win he donned a bee suit, given to him by fans and put it on for some laughs. 

The bee reference is a not to the 2024 quarterfinal with Alexander Zverev, which featured a swarm of bees and a two-hour delay that now is a big part of Indian Wells lore. 

“It’s a funny story, because especially in Indian Wells, what happened, it was the first time that I saw something like this, to be honest, on a tennis court,” Alcaraz said. 

“So it’s funny to see them in the stands, supporting with that costume. Yeah, the other day, I was with them, you know, at the end of the match a little bit. Today they brought me a bee costume, and they started to, you know, say, like, Wear it, Wear it.

“So I had to do it for them.”