INDIAN WELLS: World number one Carlos Alcaraz displayed remarkable resilience, coming from a set and a break down to secure a 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-2 victory over French player Arthur Rinderknech in the third round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Monday. With this win, Alcaraz extends his impressive unbeaten streak in 2026 and advances to the fourth round, where he will face 13th-seeded Casper Ruud.

The match began promisingly for Rinderknech, who utilized his powerful serve and aggressive gameplay, forcing Alcaraz to dig deep for every point. Despite a valiant effort, Alcaraz lost the first set in tiebreak, trailing 2-5 before a critical error allowed Rinderknech to clinch the set.

However, Alcaraz quickly regrouped in the second set, breaking Rinderknech's serve to level the match. He applied relentless pressure, eventually breaking again to take control. Commenting on his comeback, Alcaraz said, "I was a little bit mad with myself... I had a lot of chances in the first set, but I'm just really happy with the way I dealt with everything that was happening, accepted it, and stayed strong mentally."

Rinderknech, ranked 26th in the world, faced a tough outing, having never won a match at Indian Wells in his three appearances. With this defeat, he exits the tournament without a win after receiving a first-round bye and advancing to the third round by walkover.

As Alcaraz continues his title defense, the upcoming match against Ruud promises to be another riveting encounter, maintaining excitement surrounding this year's Indian Wells Masters.