Carlos Alcaraz found himself in a hole on Monday night at the BNP Paribas Open.
The Spaniard got to work and dug himself out of trouble, producing electric tennis to stretch his winning streak to 14. Alcaraz will put his undefeated season on the line again on Wednesday when he faces Casper Ruud in the round of 16.
The Spaniard had a set point while returning at 6-5 in a thrilling opening set during Monday evening’s clash with Arthur Rinderknech, but he framed a forehand which opened the door for the Frenchman to take the set.
Two points later Rinderknech hammered a pair of forehands, the second for a clean winner to lock up the 63-minute frame.
Rinderknech even when ahead by a break in set two before Alcaraz finally began to put his thumbprint on the match. Alcaraz, bidding for a third Indian Wells title, broke back for 1-1 and again for 4-2 and it was downhill sledding from there for the World No. 1.
Credit Rinderknech, who attacked Alcaraz with high-risk shots and bomb serving, even if he couldn’t maintain the high level that he achieved in the opening set.
“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 or it is what I think they could think,” Alcaraz said.
In the end Alcaraz pulled away in the final set, and inched closer to becoming the fourth player to win three or more Indian Wells men’s singles titles this century, along with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
“In the beginning I was a little bit mad with myself, because I just had a lot of chances in the first set, a few breakpoints, set point, and I couldn’t make it,” Alcaraz said. SSometimes it is difficult to accept it, but, you know, in the beginning of the second set, he played such a great level in the game that he broke my serve.
“So, yeah, just accept it, be strong mentally, stay calm as much as I can. Trying to keep going.”