Alcaraz Wants To Challenge The Best in The World and That Means Medvedev

Sunday, 19 March 2023 at 18:20

Updated at Wednesday, 26 March 2025 at 13:10

byErik Virostko

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he wants to play the best tennis players in the world, which is why he's not afraid to take on Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells Open final.

Alcaraz reached the Indian Wells Open final after beating Jannik Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3. It will be the young Spaniard's third consecutive final this year, as he has yet to play an event and not reach the final.

After having to miss the Australian Open, the teenager won the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, and he also played in the final in Rio de Janeiro. Now, he will take on Medvedev in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells.

Should he win the final, Alcaraz would become the World No. 1 player again, and after his win over Sinner, he was more than happy about his performance.

"I'm really happy with the performance today. I'm really happy to get through this great match. Jannik obviously is a really great player with great shots."

"I would say we're going to have a great rivalry over the years. We are playing in the best tournaments in the world. It's not over here. We are going to play a lot of great matches. All I can say is I'm really happy with my first final here in Indian Wells."

"Playing against Jannik is never easy. I had to overcome a little bit of problems. I had set point down. I knew that I had to increase my level to [beat] Jannik. It was a really close first set. In the second set I put out all the nerves and played more relaxed. I think it was the key of everything."

Throughout his young tennis career, Alcaraz has maintained that to be the best he has to beat the best as well. At the moment, his final opponent in Indian Wells is unbeaten for 19 matches. That streak also includes a win over Novak Djokovic.

Medvedev's win over Djokovic but also his unbeaten streak make him look like the best player in the world, according to Alcaraz. That's why he wants to challenge the Russian player in the final in Indian Wells.

"I really want to play against the best tennis player in the world. I always say that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and I would say that Daniil is the best player right now... amazing winning streak. For me, it's going to be a really difficult challenge but I'm really prepared for that. I will summon my best tomorrow in the final."