Top Seed Battles Past Rinderknech in Three Sets

Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 1 seed, secured his place in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday night, defeating Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-2. The match, lasting two hours and 27 minutes, saw the Spaniard overcome a strong challenge from the No. 26 seed.

Rinderknech utilized a powerful serve to disrupt Alcaraz’s rhythm, even taking the first set and gaining an early break in the second. However, Alcaraz quickly regained control, ultimately dominating the remainder of the contest and not losing a single point on his serve in the third set.

Alcaraz Expresses Frustration with Opponent Level

Following the match, Alcaraz expressed his surprise and, at times, frustration with the consistently high level of play he encounters from his opponents. He stated, “To be honest, I just sometimes get tired about playing Roger Federer every round,” suggesting he feels opponents are raising their game specifically against him.

“I feel like I have a target on my back, and I feel like if they don’t play that kind of tennis they can’t win.”

Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz acknowledged the pressure of being the top seed and emphasized his need to adapt. “All can I do is just accept it, keep it going, trying to do different things in the match, not to let him be aggressive or playing, put my style, my tennis, my level into the match.”

Rinderknech Pushes Alcaraz to the Limit

Despite the loss, Rinderknech proved a formidable opponent, winning the first set in a tie-break (8-6) after connecting a volley and a winning forehand. He continued his momentum by breaking Alcaraz at the start of the second set, leading 1 set to 0 with a break. However, Alcaraz responded immediately, breaking back on a lob which proved to be the turning point of the match.

Looking Ahead

Alcaraz, aiming for his third title at Indian Wells after victories in 2023 and 2024, will next face Casper Ruud in the round of 16. With Arthur Rinderknech eliminated, Arthur Fils is now the last remaining French player in the tournament, set to challenge Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday.

FAQ

• Who did Carlos Alcaraz defeat? Carlos Alcaraz defeated Arthur Rinderknech.
• What did Alcaraz say about his opponents? Alcaraz stated he feels like he is “playing Roger Federer every round” due to the high level of play he faces.
• What is Alcaraz’s next match? Alcaraz will play Casper Ruud in the round of 16.