Carlos Alcaraz knows that this phase of the season is very important for him. The former world No.1 who won the title in Rotterdam in February before being knocked out in the quarterfinals in Doha has very significant pressure ahead of the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami.
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The current world number 3 has triumphed in California in the last two editions and is certainly the top favorite in 2025 as well, especially since Jannik Sinner is absent due to his three-month suspension.
The young Spaniard has always played his best tennis in this tournament and wants to become the third player in the Open Era after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to lift this trophy three times in a row.
However, it will be interesting to see how the 21-year-old from Murcia handles the change of surface that the tournament organizers have decided on after 25 years.
The courts should be more similar to those of the Miami Open and the US Open, two tournaments in which Carlitos has already triumphed, but they may be less suited to his game (faster and with lower bounces).
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If Alcaraz wants to have a chance of dethroning Sinner before his return, he will need to win at least two of the first four Masters 1000 of the season. The suspension of the Italian ace will end on May 4, a few days before the start of the Rome Masters 1000.
Alcaraz is ready
After playing an exhibition match against Frances Tiafoe in Puerto Rico on March 2nd, the 4-time Grand Slam champion has already arrived in Indian Wells to defend his title.
The potential path of the Spanish ace in California is not easy and his best version will be needed to reach a special goal. After the bye in the first round, Carlos is expected to face Halys in the second round and Denis Shapovalov in the third round.
His opponent in the quarterfinals could be Nole Djokovic, who defeated him in the quarterfinals at the 2025 Australian Open despite a left thigh injury.
