Indian Wells Open 2026: Alcaraz survives tricky encounter with France’s Rinderknech to move onto Round of 16

Pressure makes diamonds, so they say. Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz certainly proved as much during his third round men's singles match at Indian Wells, overcoming a dropped first set to beat 26th seed Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 on Monday (9 March).

The seven-time Grand Slam winner found himself in a spot of bother early in the match, conceding the first set to Rinderknech with some sloppy play in the tie-break. But after losing the first game in the second, something clicked.

Alcaraz started playing like a man befitting his credentials, earning winner after winner in the second and third sets. He won four break points, while saving three himself.

While Rinderknech was stronger from the service line – producing eleven aces of his own – the French player was no match for an in-form Alcaraz once the Spanish star settled on court.

All the Frenchman could do was play out the remainder of the match, as Alcaraz shone under the setting California sun.

"He was playing his best tennis, I would say, in the first, the beginning of the second. For me, it was really, really difficult," Alcaraz told the ATP after the match.

"I got in trouble, to be honest, but just really happy with the way that I dealt with everything that was happening. I accepted it, kept going, stayed strong mentally and then tried to do a little bit different... I think I just started to play more solid, waiting for my chances."

The win extends his undefeated streak to 14-0 this season, including a first-career Australian Open title in February. It’s been even longer – 32 matches to be precise – since his last loss on an outdoor hardcourt.

He’ll look to build on both those statistics when he faces 13th seed Casper Ruud in the Round of 16.

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