‘Master’ Rafael Nadal sends his best to ‘prodigy’ and compatriot Carlos Alcaraz after monumental Indian Wells victory

Congratulations @carlistosalcarazz Rafael Nadal wrote in the caption of his Instagram story.

Carlos Alcaraz ends the title drought, finally!

It was an emotional moment for Carlos Alcaraz after he won the Indian Wells Open title. The 20-year-old hugged his father to celebrate the victory because it was special. This title-winning performance has come after a string of disappointments.

This win in Indian Wells is Alcaraz’s first title since the 2023 Wimbledon win. The Spaniard had been trying hard for titles but it felt like a drought for Alcaraz. While he had a few early exits, the two-time Grand Slam champion failed to convert a few good starts.

Injuries also plagued Alcaraz’s campaign at the end of the 2023 season and during the start of the new season. Nevertheless, the Spaniard seems to have put all the issues behind as Alcaraz put on an emphatic performance not only in the final but throughout the tournament.

Before toppling Medved in the final, the 20-year-old beat reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinal. Alcaraz also avenged his quarterfinal defeat at the 2024 Australian Open against Alexander Zverev as he thrashed the German in straight sets here in the desert.

Alcaraz will be now focused on carrying this momentum in the upcoming events. The biggest of all will be the French Open and the 2024 Paris Olympics.