A First For Alcaraz At Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz earned his first win at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. It is safe to say there will be plenty more for the #NextGenATP sensation in the years to come at Indian Wells.

The 19th seed defeated home favourite Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round in the California desert, where he will next play countryman Roberto Bautista Agut. New World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev is looming in their section.

Alcaraz thrilled a packed Stadium 3 with his powerful baseline play against a motivated McDonald, who grew up in California and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The American battled hard, but Alcaraz, who was competing as a Top 20 player in tournament action for the first time, had just a bit more firepower in his one-hour, 35-minute victory.

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The 18-year-old converted five of his nine break points and rallied from a break down in the second set. McDonald had one slip of concentration when he contested a not-up call, which allowed Alcaraz to take advantage and sprint through the finish line.

The reigning Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion has won seven consecutive matches (9-1 on the year), including a run to the biggest title of his young career at the Rio Open presented by Claro, an ATP 500 played on clay. In Brazil, the Spaniard defeated three players who have reached the Top 10: Matteo Berrettini, Fabio Fognini and Diego Schwartzman.

Bautista Agut had a much tougher time on Saturday, when he saved two match points en route to a 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(5) triumph against American J.J Wolf.

Wolf served for the match at 5-4 in the third set. On his first match point, he hit a double fault. Later in the game, he let slip another opportunity by missing an aggressive forehand wide. Bautista Agut clawed through after three hours and 18 minutes.

Did You Know?
On his BNP Paribas Open debut last year, Alcaraz lost a tight three-setter against former World No. 1 Andy Murray.