By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 19, 2023
The 19-year-old stormed past Daniil Medvedev to claim his maiden BNP Paribas Open title.
Photo Source: Getty
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 19, 2023
Daniil Medvedev came in red-hot, riding a 19-match winning streak. Carlos Alcaraz stormed in loose and lucid, and raced past the Russian, 6-3, 6-2, to claim his first BNP Paribas Open.
The Spaniard was unstoppable from start to finish as he mixed and matched pulsating ground strokes with serve-and-volley and polished net play to take the 27-year-old off his game.
His game is well and truly nuanced beyond his years.
It was a stunning performance that will catapult Alcaraz to the No.1 ranking for the second time.
After the final Medvedev was asked if he felt that the teenager was a true No.1, given that he won this title when Novak Djokovic was not in attendance due to the fact that US regulations did not let him enter the country without a Covid-19 vaccination.
“100 percent,” Medvedev said. “Because it's for sure unfortunate Novak cannot play all the tournaments, and I'm sure everyone would love to see him play, because it's just good to see Novak play. He plays very good.
“Carlos is deservedly World No. 1. He won more points than everybody else in last 52 weeks, and that's how rankings work,” he added.
He certainly plays like a No.1. Mastering his nerves and dominating Medvedev, he never faced a break point in the contest.
He showed a real aptitude for big matches and the big stage, and said that his cool, calm demeanor during the final was all part of the plan.
“Honestly, I was nervous,” he said. “But this is something that I talk with my team about to show the opponent that I'm relaxed, that I'm enjoying the final."
With his win, Alcaraz becomes the youngest men's singles champion at the BNP Paribas Open since Boris Becker in 1987.
More to follow…