Rinderknech Pushes No. 1 Before Alcaraz Turns the Match
Carlos Alcaraz said he has grown used to opponents producing their best tennis against him, but after Monday’s win at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, the world No. 1 framed the challenge with a joke.
“I just sometimes get tired playing Roger Federer every round,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference, adding that it can feel like opponents are delivering an “insane level.”
Alcaraz was tested by Arthur Rinderknech, who struck 17 winners and took the opening set in a tie-break. The Frenchman, ranked No. 28, swung freely early and forced Alcaraz to respond with a sharper level as the match progressed.
After dropping the first set 6-7(6), Alcaraz raised his intensity and steadiness to close out a 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 comeback victory.
“They Should Be Higher in the Ranking”
Alcaraz said the pattern of rivals going for broke is becoming familiar, particularly when players feel they have little to lose against the top seed.
“If they play that level every match, they should be higher in the ranking,” he said. Alcaraz also noted it is something he thinks about during matches, but that his approach is to accept it and adjust.
He explained that the solution is not to panic, but to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm and impose his own patterns. That means limiting the rival’s ability to play aggressively on their preferred terms and shifting the match toward Alcaraz’s pace, shot selection, and physical pressure.
A Perfect Start to 2026 and a Familiar Reality at the Top
Despite the tight start against Rinderknech, Alcaraz’s results this season remain flawless. He is 14-0 in 2026, highlighted by titles at the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Alcaraz suggested the intensity he faces is part of being World No. 1.
“I feel like I have a target on my back,” he said, adding that opponents may believe they need to play at that elevated level to have a chance of beating him.
Ruud Next as Alcaraz Chases Another Indian Wells Title
Alcaraz is aiming for a third Indian Wells trophy and his ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown. Next, he will face Casper Ruud in the fourth round, carrying a 5-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into the matchup.
With his unbeaten run intact and the draw tightening, Alcaraz’s comment captured both the pressure and the expectation that now follow him every round: opponents swing big, and the No. 1 is expected to find solutions.