Indian Wells

Alcaraz turns the match around! Sinner’s run of success comes to an end

Carlos Alcaraz

(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/CLIVE BRUNSKILL)

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has once again reached the final of the Masters tournament in Indian Wells, inflicting the first defeat of the year on Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz won the semi-final against the South Tyrolean 1:6, 6:3 and 6:2 on Saturday (local time), although the Spaniard had to endure a three-hour rain delay in the semi-final after the bee swarm interruption in the quarter-final against Alexander Zverev.

Sinner, who had started the year with 16 wins in a row, was 2:1 ahead at the time and dominated the first set after the interruption. However, Alcaraz then changed his tactics and his return position and went to the net more often. After 2:05 hours, the 20-year-old Spaniard finally won the exchange of blows against the 22-year-old.

Medvedev in the final again
As in the previous year, Alcaraz will meet Daniil Medvedev in the final. The 28-year-old Russian also beat Tommy Paul (26) from the USA in his semi-final in three sets 1:6, 7:6 (3) and 6:2. Paul was 3:2 up in the tie-break of the second set, but then lost five points in a row after twisting his ankle. After a break and treatment on his ankle, the US American looked shaken in the third set, but Medvedev won in the end.

In the women's singles, there will also be a repeat of a previous Indian Wells final on Sunday. Like two years ago, world number one Iga Swiatek from Poland will face Maria Sakkari from Greece.