Carlos Alcaraz recovers from slow start to sweep aside Matteo Arnaldi at Indian Wells, faces Felix Auger-Aliassime next

Carlos Alcaraz began the defence of his Indian Wells title after recovering from a set down to claim a 6-7 (5) 6-0 6-1 win over Matteo Arnaldi.

The Spaniard was made to work hard in a gruelling opener from the world No.40, who more than held his own to break the Alcaraz serve at 4-4.

Alcaraz was well below his best, and managed to stave off a first set point from Arnaldi to take the first set into a tie-break.

The Italian would prevail 7-5 to draw first blood, but Alcaraz’s response was emphatic and the beast had been awoken.

The 20-year-old claimed a bagel, penetrating his way through Arnaldi’s serve three times despite the Italian’s best efforts to prolong the set in the sixth and final game.

Alcaraz drew level on his sixth set point in an admirable show of resilience from the 23-year-old Arnaldi, before eventually succumbing to the inevitable.

The world No.2 was just as dominant in the decisive third set, breaking Arnaldi again to race into a 3-0 lead and claimed a comfortable hold to 15 to emerge victorious on his first match point.

“I had to change just a few things,” Alcaraz said in quotes published by atptour.com

“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.”

This victory was also much-needed vindication for Alcaraz after an ankle injury forced him to retire from his opening match in Rio de Janeiro two weeks earlier.

“Honestly it surprised me,” he added.

“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.”

Alcaraz’s reward for victory is a third-round clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday.