By Adenike Lawal
Carlos Alcaraz wasted no time asserting his dominance at Indian Wells, cruising past France’s Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 in just 67 minutes.
His victory comes amid major shake-ups in the tournament, following Jannik Sinner’s three-month doping ban and Alexander Zverev’s withdrawal, leaving Alcaraz as the highest-seeded player in the men’s draw.
With a shot at a historic third consecutive title, Alcaraz admitted to early nerves but quickly found his rhythm, showcasing a commanding service game.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka edged past McCartney Kessler, while Madison Keys delivered a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win over Anastasia Potapova. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff survived tough matches to advance.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes remain on Alcaraz, who looks poised to etch his name alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in Indian Wells history.
