defeated Medvedev, returns number 1 in the world – Corriere.it

Carlos Alcaraz was already number one in the world last year, after winning the US Open, but what happened last night looks so much like a handover. Carlitos back at the top of the rankings after beating Daniil Medvedev (which came from 19 consecutive wins…) in the final of Indian Wells Masters 1000Rafa Nadal out of the top ten for the first time of the world ranking since April 2005, when Alcaraz – born in May 2003 – had just started walking.

Nadal, who has seven lives, is not one to give up and maybe he’ll be back in the Top 10 soon, but seeing the level of Alcaraz in the last week – and beyond – it seems complicated to think that in the long term the phenomenon from Murcia can give up his seat . It could happen in the short term, if he doesn’t win the second Masters 1000 of the year, the one in Miami where he will arrive as defending champion and with a pack of points to defend, but the prerequisites for undisputed domination are there and not since yesterday. Among those who will have to prevent him, even ours Jannik Sinner, back close to the top ten (11): on Saturday night, in the semifinal, he had tried to keep up with him, but despite playing well he was unable to. Jannik has grown up a lot, physically and technically, but it’s still not enough: there is an alien in front of him.

Alcaraz, on the other hand, after missing the ATP Finals in Turin and the Australian Open due to two different injuries (abdominal tear in October, problem with his right leg before Melbourne), has resumed taxiing opponents at all latitudes: victory in Buenos Aires, final lost in Rio de Janeiro against the same player beaten in Argentina (British Cameron Norrie) and now the 6-3 6-2 triumph in an hour and 10′ at Indian Wells against Medvedevthe fastest player of all after successes in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.

You have already achieved extraordinary results in your career – the words of the defeated Russian addressing the Spanish -. Winning Indian Wells one of these. You are probably the most respectful player on the tour, greeting 300 people a day. I’m playing great – admits Alcaraz -. I can’t wait for Miami to start feeling these sensations again. A champion, but kind.