Jannik Sinner crashes to his first defeat of the season in epic Indian Wells showdown

As Jannik Sinner stormed to a 6-1 first set win against his great friend and rival Carlos Alcaraz in an eagerly anticipated Indian Wells semi-final, it seemed as if the player of 2024 was on his way to another crushing victory.

Alcaraz was simply blown off court by the Sinner whirlwind that inspired former British No 1 Tim Henman to suggest the Italian was ‘taking the game to the next level’ with his power hitting from the back of the court.

The player who had not lost a match since last November’s ATP Finals decider against Novak Djokovic barely missed a ball as he blasted his explosive forehand into Alcaraz that left the Spaniard looking desperately towards his box in the hope that they could help him in his moment of need.

Yet as he sat down at the end of that one-sided first set, Alcaraz must have feared the player he was up had taken his game to a level he could not reach.

Alcaraz was winning just 25 per-cent of his second serve points as Sinner powered into him, with the quality of the rallies being exchanged between the two a saving grace in a one-side battle.

At that point, it was impossible to see Alcaraz winning against Sinner for the first time since last year’s Indian Wells semi-final.

What came next could have a hugely significant impact on the rest of this tennis season and somehow, Alcaraz weathered the storm and fought back.

READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to have their friendship pushed to breaking point

As he collected the second set 6-3, the Sinner forehand that has been too hot for the tennis world to handle over the last few months started to misfire and Alcaraz identified the window of hope he was craving.

When he then raced away with the third set and sealed it with a double break advantage, Sinner hopes of becoming world No 2 for the first time in his career were over for now and Alcaraz had made his point.

It will be Alcaraz sitting behind Novak Djokovic when the updated ATP rankings are released on Monday and he will believe his path back to the world No 1 ranking has been opened up by this thrilling victory.

These two great young champions may have a strong bond off the court, but Alcaraz would have been bruised by Sinner’s success in recent months and that is why this first meeting of the year was so important.

Had Sinner beat him as convincingly as it appeared he would after the first set, the Italian would have justified his status as the new star of the men’s game.

Yet that title is also being chased by Alcaraz and as he clinched this match on his third match point, he raised his arms in a polite manner that must have disguised his elation.

Make no mistake, this comeback from Alcaraz fired a hole into the Sinner armoury and it will be fascinating to see how the latest Grand Slam king of the men’s game reacts to this setback.

Is Sinner the new king in waiting in the men’s game?

Not if Alcaraz has anything to do about it.