Alcaraz beats Sinner to set up Indian Wells final with Medvedev, Djokovic withdraws from Miami Open

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain ended Italian Jannik Sinner's perfect run in 2024 with a victory of 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to set up the Indian Wells final with Russia's Daniil Medvedev who downed local Tommy Paul 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Alcaraz snapped Sinner's 16-match winning streak of the season to retain the hope of becoming the first player to accomplish title defense at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic achieved a hat-trick in 2016. Sinner, however, could have become the fifth player in ATP history to start the season with 17 consecutive wins, following Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Pete Sampras.

The Australian Open champion looked poised to run away with the match when the Spaniard's forehand went long to end the 34-minute opening set, which was halted by a three-hour rain delay.

Alcaraz would finally break serve with a powerful forehand that set up a put-away volley for a 3-1 second set lead and hit a drop shot even the speedy Sinner did not try to race down to force a decider between the young rivals.

With Sinner serving in the third set, the Italian dove to keep a ball in play on break point near the net, his hands scraping along the gritty Indian Wells hard court.

Alcaraz's athletic volley secured the break and Sinner appeared to be bothered by his left hand after the exchange.

Alcaraz went up a double break and 4-1 on a forehand wide by a suddenly error-prone Sinner and sealed the win with a crosscourt forehand winner to keep Sinner from taking his world number two ranking and denying him a 20th consecutive win going back to last year.

Earlier, Serbia's 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic announced on social media X, to withdraw from next week's Miami Open in the wake of his shock exit in the third round to Italian youngster Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.

(With input from Reuters)