Indian Wells: Carlos Alcaraz fights back to reach the fourth round

World number one Carlos Alcaraz fought back to beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-2 to remain undefeated in 2026 by reaching the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 on Monday (March 9, 2026).

Alcaraz had to dig deep against the big-serving Frenchman, who fended off a set point on his way to winning the first-set tiebreak.

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Rinderknech then produced the first service break of the match and holed the Spaniard in the opening game of the second.

Alcaraz responded with an immediate breakback, piling pressure on Rinderknech’s serve en route to a decisive break in the sixth game.

When Alcaraz broke again to open the third set, he was on his way to his sixth victory over 26th-seeded Rinderknech in six career meetings.

Alcaraz, 22, became the youngest man to complete a Grand Slam career with his victory at the Australian Open.

He followed that up with the Qatar Open title and with two wins to his name in Indian Wells, the season now stands at 14-0.

Alcaraz, a two-time Indian Wells champion, will face 13th-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ruud defeated Valentin Vacherot 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.