Carlos Alcaraz overcame a slow start to secure a victory against Arthur Rinderknech in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on March 11, 2024. The top-seeded Spaniard rallied to win the match 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2 in Indian Wells, California, maintaining his unbeaten record in 2026.
Rinderknech, seeded 26th, initially took control of the match. He saved a set point during a tense first-set tiebreaker and clinched the set by winning the last three points. The Frenchman then broke Alcaraz’s serve at the start of the second set, putting the Spaniard in a challenging position.
Alcaraz, however, quickly regained his form, reminiscent of his championship runs at Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024. He dominated the closing stages of the match, winning 12 of the final 16 games. This victory marks Alcaraz’s 14th consecutive win of the year, including his recent championship at the Australian Open.
Alcaraz Reflects on the Match
In his post-match remarks, Alcaraz praised Rinderknech’s performance, humorously noting, “I just sometimes get tired about playing Roger Federer every round.” He acknowledged the high level of play he faced, stating, “If they play like, you know, that level every match, they should be higher in the ranking.”
Commenting on the match’s early challenges, Alcaraz admitted, “He was playing his best tennis… it was really, really difficult. I got in trouble, to be honest.” He emphasized the importance of mental resilience, saying, “I accepted it, kept going, stayed strong mentally, and then tried to do a little bit different.”
Alcaraz will face Casper Ruud, the 13th-seeded player from Norway, in the fourth round. Ruud secured his place by defeating 24th-seeded Valentin Vacherot of Monaco with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Other Notable Matches
In other matches on March 11, third-seeded Novak Djokovic advanced by defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Despite Kovacevic’s impressive 16-6 edge in aces, Djokovic noted, “I wasn’t maybe feeling my rhythm… but he was just making my life very difficult.”
In an exciting all-U.S. showdown, Alex Michelsen upset seventh-seeded Taylor Fritz, the 2022 Indian Wells champion, with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (6). The defending champion, 14th-seeded Jack Draper of Great Britain, also progressed by defeating 19th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 6-1, 7-5.
Advancing to the fourth round alongside Alcaraz, Ruud, and Djokovic are 11th-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia, 27th-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, and Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. The tournament continues to showcase thrilling matches as top players vie for the prestigious title.
