Carlos Alcaraz Defends Indian Wells Title in Remarkable Comeback Victory

Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Indian Wells with doubts about his injured ankle but left as a two times champion defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the BNP Paribas Open final. Despite spraining his ankle in February, Alcaraz persevered through tough matches including a three sets semifinal against Jannik Sinner.

Winning the Masters 1000 title again boosted his confidence and motivation. Alcaraz became the first man to defend his Indian Wells title since Novak Djokovic showcasing his prowess on the court. Although Medvedev initially led, Alcaraz rallied to win the first set tiebreaker and dominated the second set.

His performance earned him a place alongside Rafael Nadal as one of the few players to win five or more ATP Masters 1000 titles before turning 21. While the prize money for the champions decreased this year, Alcaraz victory still earned him $1.1 million.