INDIA:
top seed Carlos Alcaraz could replace Novak Djokovic with a win at the Indian Wells ATP Masters, and the 19-year-old Spaniard said he will give it everything he’s got.
“I’m going to go there,” Alcaraz said Wednesday during the first games in the California desert.
Alcaraz is chasing his third Masters 1000 victory, and if he succeeds he will become only the second player, after his brother Rafael Nadal, to have three bags as a teenager.
The young star will face strong opposition in former world number one Daniil Medvedev, who runs in Indian Wells has won three straight tournaments in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
The glitz is gone and Djokovic, who won his 22nd Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, is absent due to US restrictions on non-citizens who have not been vaccinated against Covid -19.
The injury forced Nadal out, but eight of the world’s top 10 are here, including third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas – runner-up to Djokovic in Melbourne – and fourth-ranked Casper Ruud.
Defending champion Taylor Fritz of the United States is fourth ahead of Medvedev.
Fritz beat Nadal in a dramatic final last year to become the first American to win the men’s title at Indian Wells since Andre Agassi in 2001.
His current number 5 in the world rankings makes him the highest-ranked American since Andy Roddick reached number five in September of 2009.
“Yes there are a lot of good players in this draw who have a chance to win the tournament, but I would say I have a chance to win.” in the tournament,” Alcaraz said.
“For me winning the tournament and being number one again is a very good goal.”
Alcaraz downplayed any long-term injury concerns after pulling out of the ATP 500 in Acapulco last week with a right muscle strain.
Alcaraz suffered a shock loss to Cameron Norrie at the Rio Open on February 26, although he had beaten Norrie seven days earlier in the final in Buenos Aires.
Alcaraz’s run in South America followed a four-month injury layoff, during which he missed the Paris Masters with a torn stomach and the Australian Open with an injury.
However, Alcaraz said he was not too concerned about the number of injuries.
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