Carlos Alcaraz opens up on controversial Indian Wells surface change

Carlos Alcaraz will be looking to win his third title at the Indian Wells. The Spaniard shed light on the controversial changes which have been made to the court ahead of the upcoming edition. 

Alcaraz is not sure why the organizers have made changes to the surface. The Indian Wells’ courts have been under the pump as many players have pointed to the surface’s slowness.

Back in 2023, Daniil Medvedev, who is a two-time champion, had criticized the court conditions.

“I know what is hard court, I’m a specialist, this is not a hard court,” Medvedev said at the time. “Should be banned from playing here. Freaking disgrace to the sport, this freaking court. And they call it hardcourts. What a shame to call this court a hardcourt.”

According to reports, Indian Wells surfaces in this year’s edition are expected to be faster than previous years but the ball might keep a bit low.

Speaking to reporters, Alcaraz said, “The court is faster, right? I don’t know. Honestly, it’s a change that I didn’t understand when I saw it,” he said in his pre-tournament press conference.

“It has been 25 years the tournament, it was the same court, and then right now has changed. I don’t know the reason why (they) did it,” Carlos Alcaraz said.

The Spaniard said he will have a better idea of the court conditions after practising on them.

“I don’t know. I have to practice on it. I think I consider myself a player who adapt very well his game, you know, on the surfaces and all the conditions that you’re playing on,” he said in the aforementioned press conference.

“I think I play great tennis anyway, even though the courts are a bit faster. But all I can say is I didn’t understand when I saw it,” Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz will begin his Indian Wells Masters campaign on Saturday.