Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that he found something difficult to cope with against Daniil Medvedev.
Alcaraz was beaten by Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(3), bringing an end to his 16-match winning streak this year.
It was a very hot afternoon in Indian Wells, with temperatures reaching over 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).
Jannik Sinner has struggled more with heat in the past, but Alcaraz has admitted that it was actually him who was suffering against Medvedev.
Carlos Alcaraz says he struggled with the heat against Daniil Medvedev
It is a rare sight to see Alcaraz losing, something he had not done since the ATP Finals last year, and therefore there is a suspicion that there may have been something not quite right for the Spaniard.
After losing his first match this year, Alcaraz was asked how he was feeling physically, particularly in terms of the heat.
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Alcaraz admitted that the heat particularly bothered him in the first set, but explained that Medvedev’s game style only heightens this.
“Well, it was because of the heat,” Alcaraz answered in his post-match press conference. “I mean, the first set, I wasn’t bad at all, but I just felt like the long rallies, especially when you play against Daniil, that the rallies are long, that you have to increase all the power in almost every shot.
“So it feels like you’re wasting extra energy after every shot. And with the heat, sometimes it’s really tricky to deal with all of that. So the first set was a little bit of struggling for me, but it was because he just made it. He just made it that I had to struggle a little bit.
“In the second set, I just started to feel much better. I realized what I have to do. I realized that I have to suffer, and I accept it. I would say that that’s why the second set was better.”
Carlos Alcaraz dismisses suggestions that the conditions caused Indian Wells loss
The conditions are often a big factor at Indian Wells and have been so once again this year.
Alcaraz has played many of his matches at Indian Wells this year at night, when the conditions are usually slower, but he has dismissed suggestions that playing in the heat of the afternoon caused him to lose.
“Well, no, not at all. I mean, we have to get used to in every conditions. Doesn’t matter,” said Alcaraz. “I knew that. I knew that it was going to be totally different than previous matches than when we were playing night session.
“As I said before, I think this tournament, it’s the tournament that you feel the most difference between playing day session or night session.
“But, you know, we have been practicing during the day every day, so we knew the conditions about playing day session. I knew that before the match, and so it wasn’t any factor at all. But obviously, it is a big difference playing day or night session here.”
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Not only has Alcaraz lost his first match of the 2026 season, it was also his first defeat against Medvedev since 2023, having won their four matches prior.
Alcaraz will now switch his preparations to the Miami Open, while Medvedev will look ahead to his third Indian Wells final against Sinner, with neither player having won the title before.
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