In a repeat of last year's final, Alcaraz prevailed 7-6(5) 6-1 in California on Sunday, recovering from an early 3-0 deficit in the opening set to win the 13th ATP Tour title of his young career.
The 20-year-old Spaniard also became the first man to win back-to-back Indian Wells titles since Novak Djokovic in 2016. "I think this year is a little bit more special for me because I was thinking before the tournament if I was going to give my best," Alcaraz said in an on-court interview.
"I wasn't feeling well because of my ankle. I was hitting for 30 minutes without moving for weeks before the tournament. There were a lot of doubts for me but I'm really happy that I was able to overcome the problems."
This was Alcaraz's first ATP Tour title since winning Wimbledon last year. -Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
It was Alcaraz's first ATP Tour title since winning Wimbledon last year. -Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
This is not to say that the tournament was not devoid of difficulties for Alcaraz. His quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev was affected by a swarm of bees and then he had to come back from a set down against Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.
The Spaniard faced more challenges in his first service game in the final with Medvedev breaking him but Alcaraz responded with a break of his own before outlasting his Russian opponent in the tiebreak, which at one point was locked at 5-5.
The second set was easier for Alcaraz, beating Medvedev twice, 1-0 and 4-1, and the world No. 4's crosscourt forehand completed the victory in an hour and 42 minutes.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz finished the match with 23 winners, 19 of them forehands compared to Medvedev's 11, and won 73% of his service points to the Russian's 56%. Alcaraz joins compatriot Rafael Nadal as the second male player to win five Masters 1000 tournaments before the age of 21.
Earlier on Sunday, Iga Świątek also won her second Indian Wells title, beating Greek Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0.
The World No. 1 Polish player, who also defeated Sakkari in the final two years ago, did not lose a set throughout the tournament and needed just 68 minutes to wrap up the title, winning eight straight games in the first round and second sets.
This was Świątek's 19th career WTA Tour title and her second this year after winning the Qatar Open last month.
