Carlos Alcaraz survived a scare on Monday evening before advancing to the Indian Wells fourth round.
Alcaraz was playing Shanghai Masters finalist Arthur Rinderknech, and he fell a set behind to the Frenchman under the bright lights in California.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
The Spaniard quickly responded, eventually winning the match 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.
The Spaniard has now won 14 consecutive ATP Tour matches and will look to continue his streak when he plays Casper Ruud on Wednesday.
Alcaraz and Rinderknech shared a joke after the match, which the Spaniard subsequently shared with the press.
Rinderknech told Alcaraz: ‘I don’t want to face you anymore’
Speaking to Tennis TV after the match, Alcaraz expressed his respect for Rinderknech’s off-court personality and his on-court level of play, before revealing what the Frenchman had told him at the net.
“He’s such a nice guy off the court,” Alcaraz said. “Every time we step on the court… we all saw what he’s capable of doing. What he’s able to do on the court, it’s great, his level is great.
“On the net he told me ‘tell the referees to put me on the other side of the net, please. I don’t want to face you anymore.’
Alcaraz and Rinderknech’s head-to-head record…
| Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Indian Wells | R3 | Alcaraz | 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2026 Qatar Open | R3 | Alcaraz | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2025 US Open | R16 | Alcaraz | 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 Queen’s Club | QF | Alcaraz | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2023 Queen’s Club | R1 | Alcaraz | 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2021 US Open | R2 | Alcaraz | 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
“But that means how friendly he is, how nice he is.”
Alcaraz has dominated his head-to-head matchup with Rinderknech, winning all six of their matches on the ATP Tour.
Alcaraz first played the Frenchman at the 2021 US Open, beating him 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round.
Since then, Alcaraz has recorded victories over Rinderknech at Queen’s Club, in New York again, Doha, and Indian Wells.
Monday’s clash marked the second occasion in two months that Alcaraz and Rinderknech played each other. In Doha, Alcaraz defeated Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 in the round of 32.
How much prize money could Carlos Alcaraz earn in Indian Wells?
If Alcaraz were to end his Indian Wells campaign in the fourth round, he would earn $105,720.
What do you think is Carlos Alcaraz’s best surface and why?
If the Spaniard were to advance, he would take home $193,645 in prize money.
If Alcaraz were to go all the way and capture a third career Indian Wells title, he would earn $1,151,380 in prize money.
Alcaraz last won the tournament in 2024 and he won $1,124,380 in prize money for doing so.
Indian Wells 2026 prize money [data courtesy of the ATP Tour]
| Round | Points | Prize Money |
| Champion | 1000 | $1,151,380 |
| Finalist | 650 | $612,340 |
| Semi-finalist | 400 | $340,190 |
| Quarter-finalist | 200 | $193,645 |
| Fourth Round | 100 | $105,720 |
| Third Round | 50 | $61,865 |
| Second Round | 30 | $36,110 |
| First Round | 10 | $24,335 |
Alcaraz earned $1,124,380 in prize money when he won the event for the first time in 2023.
