World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz appreciated how he carried out in opposition to Denis Shapovalov in Indian Wells. The 2-time defending champion within the desert ousted the Canadian 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 23 minutes to increase his profitable streak at this occasion to 14.
Alcaraz admitted he needed to maintain his composure from begin to end in opposition to an in-form rival. The Spaniard was prepared for a troublesome battle, and he felt properly after sealing the deal in straight units. As all the time, Carlos is searching for minor enhancements, however he felt good about his efficiency on Stadium 1.
Carlos Alcaraz hits a 113 mph forehand in opposition to Shapovalov at Indian Wells
Oh my…
🤯
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 11, 2025
The Spaniard beat the Canadian for the second time in as many encounters after amassing 12 factors greater than his rival. Denis barely landed in 50% of the primary serve. He plagued his sport with eight double faults and misplaced the bottom behind the second serve.
Alcaraz stole 44% of the return factors and turned them into 4 breaks from eight alternatives. The youthful participant erased three of 4 break factors and stored the stress on the opposite aspect. Regardless of hitting 16 winners and 24 unforced errors, the Spaniard had the sting fro the baseline and on the internet.
Denis Shapovalov & Carlos Alcaraz, India Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Shapovalov collected 27 errors and struggled to match the rival’s tempo exterior the shortest exchanges. Alcaraz took cost within the mid-range and most superior ones to deliver the win house with out points. Making an excellent begin is all the time useful, and Carlos adopted that sample.
He erased the rival’s sport factors within the first sport of the duel and fired a forehand down the road winner on a break likelihood. World no. 3 made one other push on the return at 2-0 and generated 4 break factors. He drew Denis’ error on the final, incomes a break and increasing the hole.
Alcaraz confronted points on serve at 3-0. He saved two break factors and opened a 4-0 lead. Not stopping there, the Spaniard landed a forehand crosscourt winner in sport 5 for his third straight break and an enormous benefit.
Denis Shapovalov, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The defending champion had an enormous likelihood to supply a bagel after incomes two set factors on serve at 5-0. He squandered them and missed a volley on the internet on a break level to maintain his rival in rivalry. Shapovalov held in sport seven and lowered the hole to 5-2.
Carlos served for the set in sport eight. He closed it with a artful volley winner, bringing the primary a part of the duel house in 42 minutes and gaining confidence. The Canadian raised his degree within the second set and adopted the Spaniard’s tempo within the first six video games.
World no. 3 stepped in on the return at 3-3. He drew the rival’s mistake for an important break and a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz cemented it with an unreturned serve in sport eight, transferring 5-3 up and protecting the stress on the opposite aspect.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Denis held at love in sport 9 to lengthen the battle and his probabilities. Nonetheless, it was throughout when Carlos held at love at 5-4, forcing Denis’ mistake and transferring excessive in type.
“I knew I had to keep my composure and make a strong start. I expected a tough battle, and I’m happy to seal the deal in straight sets. Denis is a great player who has been producing high-quality tennis recently.
He made a strong start to the season, which makes me even more delighted with the win and my performance. I can still make minor improvements, but I’m satisfied with how I played,” Carlos Alcaraz stated.
