Alcaraz is the ninth and youngest person to have won both legs of the Sunshine Double in his career, Indian Wells and Miami.
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On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz won the BNP Paribas Open for the first time, capping a dominant run that may have been the most lopsided of the competition with a stunning 6-3, 6-2 victory over Daniil Medvedev. The 19-year-old Spaniard, who went undefeated in six matches at Indian Wells, will reclaim the top spot in the world in Monday’s ATP Rankings thanks to his trophy win. Alcaraz is the ninth and youngest person to have won both legs of the Sunshine Double in his career, Indian Wells and Miami. He is currently a three-time ATP Masters 1000 champion and the current champion in Miami and Madrid. He joins fellow countryman Rafael Nadal as the only athletes to have captured at least three Masters 1000 titles while still a teenager, with Nadal having accomplished this feat six times before turning 20.
“It feels amazing to lift the trophy here, to recover the No. 1 [ranking]. I would say this has been the perfect tournament,” he reflected. “It was good for me, [at] this tournament that I really wanted to win, and for me, it’s amazing.”
He decisively ended Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak thanks to his razor-sharp on-court judgement. In Indian Wells last year, Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals before losing to fellow countryman Nadal in a classic three-set match. Alcaraz cited his poise rather than his game when asked how he had improved since then.
“I have no doubts about my shots,” he said. “I feel really comfortable on court. I really trust in every shot that I hit. Of course, that’s why I’m playing a great level, because if I miss, I don’t mind. I don’t care about the miss. I’m just trying to hit 100 per cent in every shot and having no doubts about the shot.”
“I think my tennis didn’t improve so much since last year,” he explained. “What I improved a lot is to [not] take the pressure, just to play relaxed. That’s for me the most important thing. That’s why I show a great level, because I feel like I have no pressure. I enjoy. I’m playing relaxed. I would say I improved that a lot, and that’s why I’m playing a good level.”
“I think this one I will get over pretty quickly,” he said in his post-match press conference. “I managed to make my best result in Indian Wells where before I couldn’t make it to the quarters, and already my second match was a three-setter. “A lot of positives, for sure. I think this one, I will be forever disappointed that I didn’t win the final, but I can laugh already and whatever, I’m gonna try to win the next one or win this one next year. Looking forward already and, for sure, will not think too much about this one but will discuss it with my coach.”
