Carlos Alcaraz will face his first big title defense this week at the Miami Masters. The defending champion rolls in, however, with a sparkling 14-1 mark on the season following his convincing triumph Sunday at Indian Wells.

The teen heads a strong field featuring 17 of the Top 20 (missing Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Pablo Carreno Busta) with Daniil Medvedev, former finalist Jannik Sinner and Americans Taylor Fritz and …

After two Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina finals in the first two big events of the season, can anyone stop a third from happening at the Miami Masters?

Another loaded field is set to kick off tomorrow in Miami with 29 of the Top 30 players (only missing the suspended Simona Halep) in action led by the last three Grand Slam winners: Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina.

Americans will be fronted by …

Carlos Alcaraz won the final Slam of the 2022 season. And now he wins the first Masters of the 2023 season. The teen is the real deal and today he tore up a red-hot Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2.

“It feels amazing to lift the trophy here, to recover the No. 1. I would say this has been the perfect tournament,” Alcaraz said. “It was good for me, this tournament that I …

After four straight losses including a tough defeat in the Australian Open final, Elena Rybakina finally beat Aryna Sabalenka, taking down the Belarussian 7-6(11), 6-4 to capture the Indian Wells title.

“It was an incredible two weeks here,” Rybakina said on court. “It’s always a pleasure to play against Aryna, and it’s always a tough battle.

“It’s actually the first time it went my way,” Rybakina said of her losses to Sabalenka.

Then …

The first Masters event of 2023 will go to one of the last two US Open champions, Carlos Alcaraz or Daniil Medvedev. One of them will also win their very first Indian Wells title.

Medvedev began the semifinal day upping his win streak to 19 holding off a late charge from Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-4(7-4). And he did it on his eighth match point!

“Really happy to win, for sure,” Medvedev said. …

Despite his recent success, Jannik Sinner still feels like he needs another 2-3 years to better develop his body to be in peak tennis form. The 21-year-old Italian who is in his second Masters semifinal today against Carlos Alcaraz, sounds to be in no hurry to reach the top. But he’s making slow and steady improvements.

“We have a lot of work to do still,” Sinner said. “I give my body …

Following a lop-sided loss last night to Elena Rybakina in the Indian Wells semifinals, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek revealed she’s been dealing with a rib injury.

“I’m also like not feeling 100% physically,” Swiatek said after the 6-2, 6-2 loss. “I have a little like discomfort in my rib, and we’re going to consult with medical team. For sure I’m gonna use these days off before Miami, so actually …

Frances Tiafoe was two wins from his dream last September, reaching the semifinals of the US Open. The 25-year-old American feels he can do better and reach that goal of winning a Slam.

“Win a Grand Slam,” Tiafoe said of his goal. “Be No. 1 in the world, great, but if I can walk away from the game, I won a slam, I will sleep totally well at night. No …

Just two more days are left at the first Masters event of the 2023 season at Indian Wells where someone on Sunday walks away with their first title in the desert. In fact, there will be two new finalists doing battle for the championships.

Daniil Medvedev remains the favorite. The Russian has won his last three tournaments and 18 straight matches. He’s overcome a right ankle turn and a cut finger …

Elena Rybakina did it again, slamming world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in convincing fashion Friday night in the Indian Wells semifinal 6-2, 6-2.

Rybakina stunned Swiatek in Melbourne 6-4, 6-4, and today even had an easier time. The lanky Kazakh smacked seven aces, lost just six points on first serve, hit 18 winners to just 12 unforced. She was also 5/5 on break chances. At one point, Rybakina won seven …

Jannik Sinner ended Taylor Fritz’s Indian Wells title defense topping the American No. 1 in a tight one 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

“It means a lot, obviously,” Sinner said on court. “Playing against Taylor is never easy. Especially because he won here last year. I knew the match was going to be tough.

“We both play quite similar. For both of us the service games were very important, then the wind came a …

The women’s semifinals were set Thursday at Indian Wells. Defending champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek returned to the final four getting past the 32-year-old veteran Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3.

“I’m happy that I played so intense that I could start both sets well,” Swiatek said. “I feeling like handling things pretty well, and just playing my game.”

Swiatek was broken once in each set but still won 10 of the …

Coco Gauff had three straight wins over Aryna Sabalenka but the Australian Open champion turned the tables in emphatic fashion Wednesday dominating the teen 6-4, 6-0 to advance to her first Indian Wells semifinal.

“It was great match,” Sabalenka said. “I felt really great on court. I think I played great tennis and super happy with this win. It’s always tough matches against Coco, and I’m super happy that I was …

The first semifinal is set at the Indian Wells Masters, and it’s two new faces to the last four stage in the desert. Both Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe are into their first Indian Wells semifinal.

Yesterday, Tiafoe cruised past former champion Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to reach his very first Masters semifinal.

“I just think the vibes all around. I’ve been super happy being here, I think the experience on and …

Two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova rolled back the clock coming up with one of her best wins in years upsetting American No. 1 Jessica Pegula in a thriller 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(13-11).

The 33-year-old Czech came from a break down three times in the third set. After holding a match point at 4-5 on Kvitova’s serve, Pegula served for the match at 6-5, then held three more match points in the …