Indian Wells 2023: Alcaraz vs Medvedev Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Indian Wells final match featuring Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev Match Preview

Carlos Alcaraz is one win away from reclaiming the No. 1 ranking. He faces Daniil Medvedev who is seeking a 20th win on the trot. Who will walk away with the 2023 Indian Wells Masters title?

Carlos Alcaraz proved a step ahead of Jannik Sinner in their latest sequel, beating the Italian 7-6 6-3 to progress into his first final at the Indian Wells Masters. Alcaraz had fallen at this stage last year to compatriot Rafael Nadal. But it looks like he picked up some valuable lessons from that defeat and he saved a set point in the first set, withstanding a barrage of big hitting from Sinner to move within one win of the No. 1 ranking.

Daniil Medvedev, for his part, was entrenched in a drama-filled second set before prevailing 7-5 7-6 against USA’s last man standing in Frances Tiafoe. Medvedev twice served for the match, but couldn’t close it out with Tiafoe feeding off the crowd’s energy for a late twist. But once the set got into a tiebreak, Medvedev raised his level and composure to come away with a straight sets win. Like Carlos Alcaraz, he will contest the Indian Wells Masters final for the first time.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev Prediction and Pick

Daniil Medvedev leads Carlos Alcaraz 1-0 in their head-to-head. The Russian schooled the young Spaniard in their only career meeting at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. But Alcaraz’s rise to superstardom was only just starting. The 19-year-old knows a win on Sunday will be enough to dethrone Novak Djokovic from top spot, but faces the toughest test in men’s tennis right now. Medvedev has built a 19-match winning streak since his shocking loss to Sebastian Korda at the Australian Open and has collected three ATP titles. And although he has visibly affirmed his dislike of the courts at Indian Wells, he hasn’t dropped down his guard throughout the fortnight. It will be a tight affair, but the aggressive Alcaraz will likely edge this one. The top seed is yet to drop a set and will look to give Medvedev a test of his own medicine – sitting behind the baseline, weather through the storm in long baseline rallies, and look to surprise the Russian with his trademark drop shot. Alcaraz has the variation and craft to end the streak.