Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz beat Felix Auger Aliassime 6-2 6-3 to extend his winning streak at Indian Wells to eight consecutive matches. Alcaraz continues his bid to advance to reach the Indian Wells semifinals for the third consecutive year.
Auger Aliassime still holds 3-2 in his five head-to-head matches against Alcaraz, but the Spaniard won their past two meetings in straight sets in consecutive editions at Indian Wells.
Alcaraz won seven games from 1-2 down to build up a 6-2 2-0 lead. The 2022 Wimbledon champion went up a double break in the fifth and seventh games to take a 5-2 lead, but he faced a break point in the eighth game when he tried to serve out the first set. Auger Aliassime was not able to convert his only break point in the match as Alcaraz closed it out on his first set point at deuce.
Alcaraz broke serve in the first game of the second set and held on his serve in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead. Auger Aliassime got his first game on the board and saved two break points to hold serve in the fifth game for 2-3, but Alcaraz sealed the second set 6-3 with a double break at 15 in the ninth game.
Alcaraz won 46% of points against Auger Aliassime’s first serve.
“I think he did not get that many points with his serves. I think that he lives with his serve. I put almost every return in, playing the point. I felt that I am better than him from the baseline, putting some good points on the court and I think it went well. I played aggressive with less mistakes. It was almost a perfect match for me”, said Alcaraz.
