Alcaraz, Swiatek celebrate Indian Wells titles
World number two Carlos Alcaraz cruised home in a 7-6 [7/5], 6-1 victory over Daniil Medvedev on Sunday to win a second straight Indian Wells ATP title, while world number one Iga Swiatek powered to the women's title. Alcaraz captured his first title since Wimbledon last July and became the first repeat winner at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic won three straight titles from 2014-16. As he did last year, Alcaraz denied Medvedev's bid to capture the only one of the ATP's six hardcourt Masters 1000 titles he has yet to win. World number four Medvedev, who was hindered by an ankle injury in their 2023 title clash, got off to a hot start in this one, parlaying a service break into a 3-0 first-set lead. But Alcaraz produced a blazing forehand passing shot to break Medvedev in the fifth game and from there they dueled to the tie-breaker with entertaining rallies spiced by drop shots, volleys and lobs. Alcaraz had fans out of their seats in one rally, when he started to let a ball go by but, seeing it was heading in, managed to reach it and salvage the point. Trailing 5-2 in the tie-breaker, Australian Open runner-up Medvedev battled back to 5-5, but Alcaraz claimed the set when the Russian sent a forehand wide and from there he was in complete control. World number one Iga Swiatek powered past Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 to claim her second Indian Wells WTA title two years after she beat Sakkari for her first. The rematch of the 2022 championship showdown produced an almost identical outcome, as four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek dominated the second set to seize her 19th career title and her second of 2024. Sakkari, ranked ninth in the world, battled gamely through the opening set, erasing a break and saving two break points in the final game before Swiatek delivered a blistering forehand winner to pocket the set after 44 minutes. It would take just 24 more minutes for the Polish star to wrap things up. She broke Sakkari at love for a 2-0 lead and rolled to the finish. (AFP)