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Carlos Alcaraz jokes he’s ‘playing Roger Federer every round’ after Indian Wells win | ATP Tour
Match Reaction
Alcaraz jokes he’s ‘playing Federer every round’ after Indian Wells win
Spaniard is 14-0 on the season
March 10, 2026
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Arthur Rinderknech in three sets on Monday in Indian Wells.
By Sam Jacot
Carlos Alcaraz has grown accustomed to opponents bringing their best when they face him. But after battling past Arthur Rinderknech on Monday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the Spaniard had a humorous way of describing the challenge.
“I just sometimes get tired [of] playing Roger Federer every round,” Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference. “Sometimes [it] just feels they’re playing an insane level.”
World No. 28 Rinderknech struck 17 winners to clinch the opening set against Alcaraz on a tie-break, before the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings rallied and raised his level further to earn a 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 victory.
For Alcaraz, the experience is becoming familiar, with opponents swinging freely, playing their best tennis with little to lose.
“If they play that level every match, they should be higher in the ranking,” Alcaraz said. “But it is obviously something that concerns me. When I’m just playing, I think about that. All I can do is just accept it, keep it going, trying to do different things in the match.
“Trying to not to let him be aggressive or play his style. Put my style, my tennis, my level into the match and try to turn around the things that way I try to do. But obviously, the first thing is just accept it.”
Despite the challenges, Alcaraz is 14-0 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, highlighted by titles at the Australian Open and at the ATP 500 event in Doha. Alcaraz believes the phenomenon may simply come with the territory of being World No. 1.
“I feel like I have a target on my back, and I feel like if they don’t play that kind of tennis, they can’t win, or it is what I think they could think,” Alcaraz further explained.
Alcaraz is seeking a third Indian Wells trophy and ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown this week. The 22-year-old Spaniard will face Casper Ruud in the fourth round and will take a 5-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into the clash.