Carlos Alcaraz dethrones Novak Djokovic to reclaim World No.1 spot after maiden victory at Indian Wells

Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz dethroned Novak Djokovic to reclaim World No.1 spot after clinching his maiden Indian Wells title.

The 19-year-old Alcaraz ended Russian star Daniil Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak to secure a 6-3, 6-2 victory and leapfrogged 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic in the ATP rankings.

Alcaraz, who missed the Australian Open 2023 due to a hamstring issue, was overtaken by Djokovic following the Serbian’s record-extending 10th victory in Melbourne. However, Indian Wells gave a chance to Alcaraz to return to world number one and he routed Medvedev in the final on Sunday (March 19).

Alcaraz had a perfect start as he took an early 2-0 lead. He dropped only six points on serve before racing to take the opening set in just 36 minutes. Medvedev had no answer for Alcaraz’s aggressive play as the Spaniard won the first 10 points of the second set en route to a 4-0 advantage.

The teen sensation, who first rose to No.1 after winning his maiden US Open title last year, smashed 18 winners against Medvedev’s five. Alcaraz wrapped up the match without facing a break point and along the way became the ninth and youngest man to win both events of the Sunshine Double – Indian Wells and Miami – in his career.

Alcaraz also joins his compatriot Rafael Nadal as the only players to win at least three Masters 1000 titles as a teenager, with Nadal bagging six trophies before turning 20. Now for Alcaraz to maintain his No.1 spot, he must defend his Miami title.