Indian Wells: Carlos Alcaraz begins title defence with comeback victory over Matteo Arnaldi

Carlos Alcaraz overcame an inspired start from Matteo Arnaldi to begin his BNP Paribas Open title defense with a comeback win on Friday in Indian Wells. After narrowly losing an entertaining opening set, the Spaniard won nine straight games en route to a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1 victory.

The 20-year-old former US Open champion who is now 18-2 in his opening rounds since the start of 2023 will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday.

“I had to change just a few things,” Alcaraz said of his efforts to shift the match. “I made a few mistakes in the first set… I had to put in more first serves in the second and third set, and I think that was a big key to improving my level a little bit, to be in the rallies — long rallies as well, to get the rhythm, and I’m really happy to get it at the end.”

“Honestly it surprised me. I felt great, moving normally without thinking about it,” he said. “It was a really good match to realise that I am better than I thought. I think I played great tennis because of that.”

With Alcaraz dropping 1,000 PIF ATP Rankings points as the defending champ (he did not lose a set in his 2023 run), he has fallen behind Jannik Sinner to No. 3 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week — but his progress to the third round round drew him back within 105 points of the red-hot Italian for World No. 2.

Earlier on Friday, home favourite Ben Shelton scored a comeback win of his own, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik. The victory is 21-year-old Shelton’s first against a younger opponent on the ATP Tour after four previous attempts.

Through to the Indian Wells third round for the first time with the help of eight aces, the American will face 22nd seed Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the last 16.