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Carlos Alcaraz is on cloud nine. He has won the BNP Paribas Open and in doing so has also returned to the world No.1 ranking. Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev in one hour ten minutes 6-3, 6-2. The Spaniard was flying almost from the first point and was soon up a double service break and it evident quite early that this was going to be a tough day for Medvedev.
"It feels amazing to lift the trophy here, to recover the No. 1. I would say this has been the perfect tournament. Yeah, it was good for me, this tournament that I really wanted to win, and for me, it's amazing," Alcaraz said. "It feels great to be back on the No. 1, you know. Of course, every player on the ATP wants to be No. 1, and for me it's a dream come true again. Obviously being in front of such great players like Novak, like the top players, for me, it's an amazing feeling."
The windy conditions made it difficult for Medvedev who was on a 19 match win streak and was playing his fourth final in five weeks having won titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai. As expected, the loss was disappointing but he said there are plenty of positives and it makes him just that bit more determined to turn things around going forward.
"Why didn't I play my best? I don't know. Maybe it was his ball. Maybe it was the wind, was pretty windy today, and for him it was easier to go through this wind, and that's normal. That's what's easier to do for him," Medvedev said. "So, I have no real reasons, and sometimes in tennis you don't have them. Disappointed with the result, but the week was amazing. Because Indian Wells, to make final, I mean, I'm just super happy and proud, because it's a clay court on hard court. That's a good result for me.
"I think this one I will get over pretty quickly. A lot of positives, for sure. I think this one, like I will be forever disappointed that I didn't win the final, but I can laugh already and whatever, I'm gonna try to win the next one or win this one next year."
Alcaraz appeared so calm on the court but he said that was not quite the case on the inside.
"I try to show that, but honestly, I was nervous," he said. "But this is something that I talk with my team, you know, to show the opponent that I'm relaxed, that I'm enjoying the final. But of course is normal to have nerves and you have to handle that, you know. All the best players in the world in that moment, they handle the nerves really, really well, and play such a great level. That's what I try to do. But I was nervous."
At 19, he is the 9th man and the youngest to win what is known as the "Sunshine Double" having won the Miami Open last year. He and his countryman Rafa Nadal are the only players who as teenager have won more than two Masters 1000's during their teenager years - this is Alcaraz's third and Nadal won six.
"I think my tennis didn't improve so much since last year (but) what I improve a lot is to don't take the pressure, just to play relaxed, you know," Alcaraz said. "That's for me the most important thing. That's why I show a great level, because I -- well, I feel like I have no pressure. I enjoy. I'm playing relaxed. I would say I improved that a lot, and that's why I'm playing a good level."
The doubles title was won by Matt Ebden and Rohan Bopanna - its their first Masters 1000 as a team. They defeated the world No1 team of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.
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