Carlos Alcaraz has just won Indian Wells again, defeating Daniil Medvedev in a repeat of their 2023 clash at the same stage.
The 28-year-old must be sick of this prodigious talent, who continues to thwart him on the biggest stage. However, it was a performance to be proud of for the 2023 Wimbledon champion, blowing away his opponent with relative ease.
In fact, such was the quality of his showing, it has now sparked congratulations from Rafael Nadal.
He would take to Instagram to send his compatriot a message after the match…
What Rafael Nadal said to Carlos Alcaraz
Having shared a fine relationship thus far, exhibited succinctly in their recent clash for the inaugural ‘Netflix Slam’, both Nadal and Alcaraz likely boast huge respect for one another.
After all, the former is a legendary figure not just in Spain but across the entire sport, with many crediting the physicality he brought to tennis as revolutionary. His battles with Roger Federer are unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old has likely already earned the respect of his elder with the meteoric rise he has enjoyed, and the manner in which his early career has actually mirrored Nadal’s.
As such, although it was just a one-word message, it speaks volumes that the youngster had earned a post at all.
Taking to Instagram, the 37-year-old had attached a post celebrating Alcaraz’s latest title, and underneath penned his own comment: ‘enhorabuena’. Merely, congratulations in Spanish.
Carlos Alcaraz shone against Daniil Medvedev
Marking his second success at Indian Wells, in consecutive years too, he is already just one more Californian title away from matching Nadal’s tally at that competition.
And the manner in which he did so was emphatic, blowing away Medvedev in straight sets.
The first, a hard-fought affair, saw both players trade blows as they sought to work each other out.
It promised to be a long and arduous affair for Alcaraz when the Russian raced into a three-game lead after an early break, but hitting back instantly allowed the young superstar to win the following three games and level things up.
The two could not be separated after that, with a tie-break the cruel manner in which the Spaniard claimed the first set.
With numerous stunning points exchanged between the pair too, Alcaraz eventually grew into the ascendency, and winning the second set 6-1 only emphasised this dominance.
After months of struggling with injury and form, leading to questions from many, he has proven the doubters with relative ease to win the final after a bruising semi-final battle with Jannik Sinner just a day earlier.
Hopefully this can mark the catalyst that truly kickstarts his 2024, and for Medvedev, he must brush himself off again after losing his second final of the year.
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