In a stellar display of skill and determination, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the fourth round at Indian Wells with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday. The 20-year-old Spaniard showcased his prowess on the court, maintaining a focused and relentless performance.
Alcaraz, who faces Fabian Marozsan in the next round, emphasized the importance of a mindset shift to successfully defend his title. “I think the first thing that you have to do if you want to defend the title is you forget about you won the title last year,” he explained. “It’s about being yourself, being at 100% every day if you want to achieve good results here.”
Acknowledging the challenge of maintaining peak performance, Alcaraz expressed his commitment to staying focused and dedicated throughout the tournament. His determination was evident in the way he swiftly dispatched his opponent, Auger-Aliassime, in straight sets.
Despite nursing an ankle injury that led to his withdrawal from the Rio Open last month, Alcaraz assured fans that it did not hinder his performance on the court. “I’m not going to say I forget about it, but in matches, I forget all about it,” he stated. “I’m moving very well. I don’t think about the ankle in matches, in training. But off the court, of course, I have to take care of it.”
Joining Alcaraz in the winners’ circle, third seed Jannik Sinner advanced with a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, while 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas exhibited his prowess with a 6-3, 6-3 win against home hopeful Frances Tiafoe.
In the women’s draw, world number one Iga Swiatek demonstrated her dominance with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win over Czech player Linda Noskova. As the tournament progresses, the competition intensifies, setting the stage for thrilling matchups and defining moments at Indian Wells.
