Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz eased past Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of Indian Wells. Five-time champion Novak Djokovic lost to the 85th-ranked player.
In a surprising turn of events at the Indian Wells tournament, tennis player Botic van de Zandschulp created a big shock when he defeated 5-time champion Novak Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on the morning of March 9.
“I think I kept my composure throughout the match. The second set was very difficult, Djokovic had a big advantage. But I think I did well to turn it to 5-3 and get a little bit of momentum. I think I started well, stayed for a game or two in the third set, then broke serve and turned it around. I know if I go in and lose my composure, especially against big players, it’s going to be a really difficult day. That’s always something I try to do well,” Van de Zandschulp said after the match.
Djokovic holds the records for most titles (40), finals (59) and semi-finals (78) at the ATP Masters 1000 level, but he was unable to maintain his momentum as Van de Zandschulp levelled the series at 1-1. The 37-year-old is aiming to equal Rafael Nadal for the most wins (410), but the defeat has slowed his progress.
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive debut at Indian Wells in the early hours of March 9. The 21-year-old Spaniard showed steady form as he easily overcame Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 for the fourth consecutive year.
Alcaraz shared after the match: “I was really nervous, it was not easy to control my emotions. I had to focus to calm down, to control my nerves and try to play in good form. I think I did quite well. I am really happy to overcome the first challenge and start defending the title.”
The second seed is comfortable with the conditions at Indian Wells: “The ball bounces high and slow, the conditions are pretty good for me. I just love playing here. I feel at home, really calm when I’m out on the court. The fans are always good to me, so I really appreciate the love and support. Everything here suits me and my game.”
Currently ranked No. 3 in the ATP rankings, Alcaraz is bidding to become the first player born after 1991 to win three consecutive titles at an ATP Tour event. If he succeeds, he will join the ranks of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to have won three consecutive singles titles at the event. Alcaraz’s next opponent will be Denis Shapovalov, who eased past Adam Walton 6-3, 6-2.
Despite only hitting 44 percent of his first serves in the match against Halys, Alcaraz was sharp in his follow-up shots. Statistically, the No. 2 seed won 95 percent of his first-serve points in the 67-minute victory. With Quentin Halys at a career-high No. 59 in the ATP rankings, the Frenchman was unable to stop the two-time defending champion, who finally got a feel for his shots and fired 24 winners.
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