Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz They are preparing to risk the passage to the semi-finals of the Masters 1.000 de Indian Wells, the first of the season. A meeting of significance for both: they are two of the players competing for the number 1 in the world, They already have a relatively long history of direct duels behind them that represent a particular rivalry. The last chapter of it took place in the rooms of the Open the Australia, with the victory of the German, so a victory for Carlos, in addition to its direct value, would mean a reaffirmation of his position in the fight for the leadership of men’s tennis.
Because Alexander Zverev He was in that group before Carlos Alcaraz: He is 26 years old and his progression was rapid. However, the early years of his career were spent during the latter phase of dominance of the ‘Big 3’, which, as we know, left few loopholes for competition and had already suffocated several generations. Still, Alexander came to number 2 in the world (2022) and in his already extensive record of 21 titles are counted six Masters 1,000 and two ATP Finals. But when he seemed to be in the middle of an expansive phase of his career, an unfortunate injury: the terrible sprained ankle he suffered before Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros 2022, which first meant a prolonged period of sick leave and after reconstruction. But he already seems to have gotten out of it and this season we are being able to see the better Alexander Zverev. In Melbourne he reached the semi-finals, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that he fell in the first round of Acapulco before his compatriot Altmaier.
Zverev has won in Indian Wells against O’Connell, Greek Spoor y De Miñaur. Carlos has done it with Arnaldi, Auger-Alassime and Marozsan. In the case of the Spaniard, the best that can be said is that he is far from the irregularity that he showed in Buenos Aires and at some moments last season. It has always seemed thatand it has been difficult for him to get into the game in tournaments and in matches – he gave in to Arnaldi the opening set in Indian Wells – but in the last two matches and the end of the previous one it has not been like that: it has been from the first moment solid, concentrated and showing the game that led him to be number 1 in the world. However, Sasha Zverev is his first true level e testn this tournament.
So far Zverev and Alcaraz They have played eight times, with five wins for the Germann, including the last one, the quarterfinals of the Open the Australia (6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4) and the penultimate, in the last group Finals ATP (6-7, 6-3, 6-4). Carlos’ triumphs took place in the quarterfinals of the US Open 2023 (6-3, 6-2, 6-4), in the round of 16 Mutua Madrid Open of the same year (6-1, 6-2) and in the final of the previous Mutua Madrid Open (6-3, 6-1). Be that as it may, we are about to attend a great game. The odd thing would be the opposite.