Andy Roddick has been effusive in his praise for Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his latest title victory.
Admittedly cruising to the final of the Indian Wells, he dealt with some early resistance from Daniil Medvedev in the final before coming through a first-set tiebreak to put the match to bed.
It marked the retention of his coveted crown and now sets up the opportunity for a Sunshine Double as he travels to Miami.
But what in particular left Roddick feeling enamoured with the 20-year-old superstar? We take a closer look…
What Andy Roddick said about Carlos Alcaraz
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one was in love with Alcaraz’s showing against his Russian opponent.
Especially one change in particular, made mid-match, which he felt won him the tie and ultimately the tournament.
Roddick noted: ‘One of the adjustments that I love, that he did in the final against Medvedev, was using that slice. Medvedev is not the kind of guy, you cannot hit that standstill slice to someone like a Rafa or a Sinner who can create their own speed off of a slow ball.
‘Medvedev maxes out every single thing he can out of his game, but what he doesn’t have is the ability to create speed a la Federer, Nadal, Novak can do it, Sinner can do it, Rune can do it, Zverev cannot do it on the forehand side as well.
‘What it does, with Alcaraz having that awareness, it brings him forward towards where all of a sudden he’s playing that ball from a foot inside so when Carlos goes after that next ball Medvedev is retreating as he’s going backwards, he’s not in that Octopus defence mode where he’s already five feet back and is comfortable defending from there.
‘I thought that was a beautiful adjustment by Alcaraz.’
Carlos Alcaraz will be eyeing a Sunshine Double
Having breezed to the title in Indian Wells, and seemingly recapturing his form in the process, Alcaraz will surely now have grand aspirations of completing a sunshine double with the Miami Open starting this week.
Especially with Novak Djokovic having dropped out too, although the two did not meet in the Spaniard’s run to his second final in California in as many years.
He always poses an almighty obstacle due to his sheer legendary quality, so to see that prospect removed severely weakens the draw.
The only true challengers to that throne are now Jannik Sinner, whom he beat emphatically in the Indian Wells semi-finals, and perhaps Daniil Medvedev should he find a higher level than he did in the final just played. After all, he did recently question one thing about Indian Wells, which could have played a factor in his loss.
Regardless, Alcaraz will surely be heavy favourite to continue his fine run and enter the clay court season in scintillating form. It’s good to see him back to his best.
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