Defending champ Alcaraz roars back from behind against Arnaldi

Carlos Alcaraz overcame an inspired start from Matteo Arnaldi to begin his BNP Paribas Open title defense with a comeback win on Friday in Indian Wells. After narrowly losing an entertaining opening set, the Spaniard won nine straight games en route to a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1 victory.

Now 18-2 in his opening rounds since the start of 2023, the second seed will next meet Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday.

"I had to change just a few things," Alcaraz said of his efforts to shift the match. "I made a few mistakes in the first set... I had to put in more first serves in the second and third set, and I think that was a big key to improving my level a little bit, to be in the rallies — long rallies as well, to get the rhythm, and I'm really happy to get it at the end."

Warming up in @BNPPARIBASOPEN 📈#ShotQuality is calculated in real-time by analysing each shot's speed, spin, depth, width, and the impact it has on the opponent#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/XHeZbkLN9X

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) March 9, 2024

Alcaraz and Arnaldi thrilled the stadium crowd in an athletic and explosive opening set, but the Spaniard was largely below his best despite several flashes of brilliance. The Italian played his best ball late in the set after dropping serve to trail 3-4, and he held his nerve to close out the opening tie-break from 5/2.

After Alcaraz hit 10 winners and 23 unforced errors in the opening set, he made just two unforced errors in quick-fire second. The smooth sailing continued in set three, outside of a crucial 15/40 escape to to hold for 4-1.

The typically all-action performance from Alcaraz also quelled any lingering concerns two weeks after he turned his ankle and retired in his Rio de Janeiro opener.

"Honestly it surprised me. I felt great, moving normally without thinking about it," he said. "It was a really good match to realise that I am better than I thought. I think I played great tennis because of that."

With Alcaraz dropping 1,000 PIF ATP Rankings points as the defending champ (he did not lose a set in his 2023 run), he has fallen behind Jannik Sinner to No. 3 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week — but his progress to the third round round drew him back within 105 points of the red-hot Italian for World No. 2.

Mission accomplished 🚀@BenShelton shuts the door on Jakub Mensik's Indian Wells campaign, d. the 18-year-old 4-6 6-3 6-4 to advance to the third round.@BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/holKV6WdXG

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 9, 2024

Earlier on Friday, home favourite Ben Shelton scored a comeback win of his own, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik. The victory is 21-year-old Shelton's first against a younger opponent on the ATP Tour after four previous attempts.

"I had to dig deep tonight," Shelton said after two hours on Court 2. "He's an offensive player, a guy with a big game. I just had to amp up my aggression a little bit. I felt like I let him take it to me a little bit in the first set. Once I got deep in the second set I started finding some winners with my forehand and playing a little bit more aggressive."

Through to the Indian Wells third round for the first time with the help of eight aces, the American will face 22nd seed Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the last 16.