Carlos Alcaraz returns to extend perfect season with win over Arthur Rinderknech at Indian Wells | ATP Tour
indian wells
Alcaraz shakes off ‘trouble’ with Rinderknech to extend perfect season in Indian Wells
Spaniard trails by a set and a break
March 10, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz improves to 6-0 against Arthur Rinderknech in the Lexus ATP Head2Head Series.
Written by ATP Staff
Carlos Alcaraz turned a tricky situation into a resounding victory in his evening showdown with Arthur Rinderknech at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday. Alcaraz extended his perfect start to the 2026 season to 14-0 with an easy 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 victory in Indian Wells.
“I would say he played his best tennis in the first game and at the beginning of the second game. For me, it was really, really difficult,” said Alcaraz, who was held back by Lindeknevich’s aggressive start. “To be honest, I was in trouble, but I’m really happy with the way I handled everything that happened. I took it, moved on, stayed mentally strong and tried to do some different things… I think I just started playing more solid and waiting for my chance.”
Alcaraz almost took the set, but after tying the match from 2/5, he missed a forehand shot at 6/5. Lindeknech took full advantage of the tiebreak and extended his advantage further with a break in the second set.
But after saving two of his break points in the first set with fearless tennis, Lindeknec was unable to consolidate an early break in the second set. According to Infosys ATP statistics, Alcaraz broke serve four times out of 10 break opportunities in the second and third sets and dominated his opponents after finding his groove on the court.
Even a minor ankle problem couldn’t stop Alcaraz from charging towards the finish line, and a mistake early in the second set briefly caused concern. While Alcaraz plans to have his ankle checked by his physical therapist, his performance seemed to provide all the answers he needed: “I moved perfectly in the third set, so hopefully tomorrow will be like nothing,” he said.
In addition to extending his winning streak to start the season, which includes titles at the Australian Open and Doha, Alcaraz also won his 32nd consecutive match on outdoor hard courts, dating back to last year in Miami. Alcaraz improves to 6-0 in Lexus ATP action against Rinderknech, who has lost 11 of his last 12 sets against the PIF ATP No. 1 player.
Next up, Alcaraz will advance to the finals with a 5-1 Lexus ATP head-to-head record in the round of 16 against Casper Ruud. The 13th-seeded Norwegian also advanced from behind on Monday, defeating 24th-seeded Valentin Vachero 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
