Indian Wells Open 2024: Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :March 15, 2024 at 4:46 PM

Modified at :March 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM

(Courtesy : India Today/Hindustan Times)

Alcaraz ousted Sinner in the semifinals last year

The rematch between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is set to unfold at the Indian Wells Open 2024 semifinal. It’s a repeat of last season’s clash at the same stage, where Alcaraz defeated Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals.

Sinner’s train continues to steam ahead, with the Italian extending his winning streak to 19 matches and maintaining a perfect 16-0 record this season. He dispatched Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 to reach his second consecutive semi-final in the California desert.

Sinner delivered a clinical performance against Lehecka, committing only 13 unforced errors compared to Lehecka’s 35, and broke the Czech’s serve three times to advance after one hour and 25 minutes.

Lehecka, who had previously had upset victories over Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, was competing in his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals.

Carlos Alcaraz found an unconventional use for his racket during his Indian Wells quarterfinal match against Alexander Zverev. Just a few minutes into the game, he used his racket to fend off bees that had swarmed the court. The Spaniard’s quick thinking with the racket helped protect him from the bees, leading to a suspension of play for over an hour.

Alcaraz outclassed the German, securing a 6-3, 6-1 victory to claim a spot in the Indian Wells semifinals. This marked the Spaniard’s first victory over Zverev in their three encounters. Zverev, who has been experiencing a title drought since Wimbledon win last year, also faced an injury scare at the ATP 500 event in Rio last month, withdrawing in the first round after playing just two games against Thiago Monteiro.

Alcaraz is riding a ten-match winning streak at Indian Wells and has claimed victory in four out of the five ATP 1000 level event finals he has reached. His most recent triumph was at the Mutua Madrid Open in 2023.

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Preview

The Indian Wells Open semifinal clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is more than just a match; it’s a battle for the world No. 2 spot. The outcome will determine who will claim the No. 2 position in the upcoming PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.

For Sinner, this is a chance to be world No. 2 for the first time, surpassing his record as the highest-ranked Italian in ATP rankings history since 1973. Meanwhile, Alcaraz has maintained a presence in the top 2 since his rise to the No. 1 spot in September 2022 following his US Open victory.

Sinner’s impeccable start to the 2024 season is noteworthy. The 22-year-old has already secured victories at the Australian Open and Rotterdam and has now advanced to the semifinals at Indian Wells without dropping a set. As the third seed, he continues to demonstrate his formidable form in this year’s BNP Paribas Open also referred to as Indian Wells.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 8

Jannik Sinner – 4

Carlos Alcaraz – 4

The head-to-head record between the two players is evenly matched, with each athlete having bested the other in recent encounters. The Italian competitor established a 2-1 lead over Alcaraz in the 2023 season, securing victories at the Beijing and Miami tournaments. Conversely, Alcaraz claimed victory at the Indian Wells event.

The most protracted match to date occurred during the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open. This grueling five-set encounter lasted an exhaustive duration of 5 hours and 15 minutes. In comparison, the subsequent longest quarterfinal match, featuring Karen Khachanov against Nick Kyrgios, concluded nearly two hours sooner.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of the Indian Wells Open 2024 semifinal match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in India?

Tennis fans in India can keep an eye out for the clash between two of the most promising players on the Sony Network. The network promises live and extensive coverage of the event on their television channels, as well as their streaming service, SonyLiv.

A third option in the form of Tennis TV is available for those who like to indulge in replays or highlights of previous matches while they wait for the semifinal to get underway. The Match is scheduled for 17th March as Per Indian Standard Time.

Prediction

While Jannik Sinner has been consistently strong in the 2024 season, Carlos Alcaraz, the Wimbledon champion, has experienced a mixed set of results. The world No. 2 has not claimed a title for nearly ten months, suffering a quarterfinal defeat at Melbourne by Zverev and a surprising loss to world No. 21 Nicolas Jarry at Buenos Aires. Additionally, a first-round withdrawal at Rio added to concerns for the Spaniard.

However, Alcaraz appears to have reversed his fortunes at Indian Wells. As the second seed, he avenged his 2023 loss in Rome with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hungarian player Fabian Marozsan. This win marked his 50th at an ATP Masters 1000 event, the second-highest number of wins for a player before turning 21, trailing only behind Rafael Nadal’s 82 wins. Alcaraz also overcame Matteo Arnaldi in the second round, rallying from a set down to win 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1.

While Sinner boasts an impeccable record on outdoor hard courts this season, Alcaraz has a superior overall winning percentage of 79.7% (145 – 37). In contrast, the Italian’s record stands at 72% (136 – 53) on hard courts. Notably, Alcaraz (4-3) has engaged in more tiebreaks this season than Sinner (2-1), indicating potential challenges in closing out sets promptly.

In 2024, Sinner’s service game-winning percentage is an impressive 94%, surpassing Alcaraz’s 86%. Additionally, the Italian has a higher success rate in converting break point opportunities, with 47% compared to Alcaraz’s 39%. Sinner also leads in the number of break opportunities created, with 100 to Alcaraz’s 79.

Both players exhibit formidable defense, and the victor will likely be the one who secures an early lead, providing a buffer against any temporary setbacks during the match.

Result: Jannik Sinner to win in three sets.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram