By Kwame Bediako
Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive run of form, defeating Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round of the Indian Wells. The second seed’s 14th consecutive match win sets up a showdown with either 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov or Gael Monfils in the next round.
Alcaraz came out strong, taking a 5-0 lead in the first set and never looking back. Despite Shapovalov finding his footing, the Canadian was unable to put Alcaraz under significant pressure. The two-time defending champion’s dominant performance was marked by his ability to take the racquet out of Shapovalov’s hand, limiting the Canadian’s firepower.
The 21-year-old Alcaraz has lost just two sets during his 14-match winning streak and has now taken a 2-0 lead in his ATP Head2Head series against Shapovalov. Alcaraz’s victory was marked by his calm and composed demeanour, which he attributed to his ability to control his nerves. “Nerves are a good thing, but today I didn’t feel as much nerves as I did in the first round. Today I was more relaxed; I was calm, so I could think much better.”
Shapovalov, who leads the ATP Tour with three victories against Top 10 players this season, was unable to replicate that success against Alcaraz. The Canadian made 27 unforced errors compared to just 12 winners, ultimately falling short against the in-form Spaniard.
Alcaraz’s victory improves his season record to 13-2, and he is now seeking his sixth ATP Masters 1000 trophy. With his winning streak showing no signs of slowing down, Alcaraz is firmly establishing himself as one of the top players in the world.
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