Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev won’t be distracted by streaks, stats, or even the temptation to become world No. 1 when they fight for the ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells on Sunday.
Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who became the youngest number one since his US Open triumph last year, could edge out Novak Djokovic and return to the top with a third Masters 1000 title.
Medvedev, meanwhile, is on a 19-match ATP winning streak in which he won three titles in three weeks in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.
Now in the title match of the two-week tournament, Medvedev has become the first player since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach four finals in five weeks.
For both, the first title in Indian Wells is a goal that excites them.
“I know that if I win tomorrow, I will be number one,” Alcaraz said. “I’ll try not to think about it, I’ll just think about what I need to do.
“I have to make everything perfect. That’s all I’ll think about tomorrow.”
Similarly, Medvedev will not focus on any historical aspect of his career, only on extending it.
“When you’re doing well and then you hear some of those stats, it’s just great, but at the same time, I know it comes with wins,” he said. “The most important thing is to try to win this tournament and win these matches.”
Medvedev overcame a speed bump late in the match in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final win over Francis Tiafoe and it took him eight match points to eliminate the 16th-place American.
Alcaraz won a tight first set and followed up with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Italian Yannick Sinner.
Both Medvedev and Alcaraz have said that their only previous meeting — Medvedev’s victory in the second round of Wimbledon in 2021 — is not an indicator for this final.
“He was definitely not the player he is now,” Medvedev said. “So in a way it will be like the first match between us in terms of how we play tactically, physically or in terms of tennis.
“It will be a lot of fun to play against him.”
Alcaraz added: “If I’m not mistaken, when I played against him he was number two in the world, I just started playing on the tour.
“Now everything is completely different. I think it will be a completely different match.”
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
