INDIAN WELLS:
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will not be distracted by streaks, stats and even the lure of World No 1 once they conflict for the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday.
Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who turned the youngest primary ever after his triumph on the US Open final 12 months, can supplant Novak Djokovic and return to the summit with a 3rd Masters 1000 title.
Medvedev, in the meantime, is driving a 19-match ATP win streak that noticed him win three titles in three weeks at Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
Now that he is within the title match in a two-week occasion, Medvedev is the primary participant since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach 4 finals in 5 weeks.
For each, a primary Indian Wells title is the aim that issues them.
“I know if I win tomorrow I’m going to become the number one,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I’ll strive not to consider that, simply to consider the issues that I’ve to do.
“I have to make everything perfect. That’s all I’m going to think about tomorrow.”
Similarly, Medvedev will not be targeted on any historic facet of his streak – solely on extending it.
“When you do well and then you hear some of these stats, it’s just great, but at the same time I know that it comes with wins,” he mentioned. “The most important is to try to win this tournament and to win these matches.”
Medvedev bought previous a late match velocity bump in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, needing eight match factors to place the 16th-ranked American away.
Alcaraz received a tense first set then cruised in a 7-6 (7/4), 6-Three victory over Italian Jannik Sinner.
Both Medvedev and Alcaraz mentioned their solely prior assembly – Medvedev’s 2021 second-round victory at Wimbledon – was no gauge for this remaining.
“He was definitely not the same player as he is right now,” Medvedev mentioned. “So in a approach it will be like a primary match between us by way of how we’ll go tactically or bodily or tennis-wise.
“It’s going to be great fun to play against him.”
Added Alcaraz: “If I’m not incorrect, once I performed towards him he was quantity two on the earth, I simply began to play on the tour.
“Right now it’s totally different. It’s going to be, I think, a totally different match.”
