INDIAN WELLS: Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will not be distracted by streaks, stats and even the lure of World No. 1 once they conflict for the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday.
Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who turned the youngest primary ever after his triumph on the US Open final yr, can supplant Novak Djokovic and return to the summit with a 3rd Masters 1000 title.
Medvedev, in the meantime, is driving a 19-match ATP win streak that noticed him win three titles in three weeks at Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
Now that he is within the title match in a two-week occasion, Medvedev is the primary participant since Andy Murray in 2016 to succeed in 4 finals in 5 weeks.
For each, a primary Indian Wells title is the aim that considerations them.
“I do know if I win tomorrow I’ll change into the primary,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I’ll attempt not to consider that, simply to consider the issues that I’ve to do.
“I’ve to make every thing excellent. That is all I am going to consider tomorrow.”
Equally, Medvedev will not be centered on any historic side of his streak — solely on extending it.
“Once you do nicely and then you definately hear a few of these stats, it is simply nice, however on the identical time I do know that it comes with wins,” he mentioned. “A very powerful is to attempt to win this match and to win these matches.”
Medvedev acquired previous a late match velocity bump in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, needing eight match factors to place the Sixteenth-ranked American away.
Alcaraz gained a tense first set then cruised in a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Italian Jannik Sinner.
Each Medvedev and Alcaraz mentioned their solely prior assembly — Medvedev’s 2021 second-round victory at Wimbledon — was no gauge for this closing.
“He was positively not the identical participant as he’s proper now,” Medvedev mentioned. “So in a method it will be like a primary match between us by way of how we will go tactically or bodily or tennis-wise.
“It is going to be nice enjoyable to play in opposition to him.”
Added Alcaraz: “If I am not incorrect, once I performed in opposition to him he was quantity two on the earth, I simply began to play on the tour.
“Proper now it’s very completely different. It is going to be, I feel, a completely completely different match.”
