Carlos Alcaraz Blames Daniil Medvedev's Brilliance For Indian Wells Semifinal Exit

Last Updated:March 15, 2026, 11:17 IST

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on his first defeat of the season to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells, lauding the latter's brilliance.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said that he is tired of being painted as a target, adding that it was Daniil Medvedev’s sheer brilliance that marked his exit from the Indian Wells on Saturday, March 14.

Medvedev, the former world number one now ranked 11th and regaining form, beat Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), handing the Spaniard his first loss of the season after a run of 16 straight wins.

But the 22-year-old, who followed up his Australian Open win with a title in Qatar, said that the streak was the last thing on his mind.

“I am not thinking about it at all," Alcaraz said, adding that his biggest challenge right now is that every opponent he faces seems to raise their level for the occasion.

After losing a first-set tiebreaker before rallying to beat 28th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech on Monday, Alcaraz joked that it sometimes feels as though he is facing Roger Federer in every match.

“Sometimes (it) just feels they are playing an insane level," Alcaraz said of those trying to knock him off his perch.

“What I am starting to get a little tired of is having that target on my back all the time," added Alcaraz, who also admitted that Medvedev produced a level of tennis higher than he had experienced from the Russian.

“He was playing unreal, I have got to say," Alcaraz said. “I have never seen, to be honest, playing Daniil like this."

But Alcaraz understands that such pressure is the price of excellence and tries to block out the expectations that come with it.

“I have to accept it," Alcaraz said. “But after everything, I just realised what I had to do and what I have to think before every match and before every tournament and it’s just playing for me, playing for my team and for my close people.

News sports tennis Carlos Alcaraz Blames Daniil Medvedev's Brilliance For Indian Wells Semifinal Exit

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