Carlos Alcaraz and his team Speaks Out on the Surface Change at Indian Wells “The court

The ongoing dispute over court surfaces in tennis has reached a new chapter at Indian Wells, where Spanish tennis has endured a setback with Paula Badosa withdrawing and Alejandro Davidovich exiting in the first round.

This important tournament, regarded as the fifth Grand Slam, is already underway in California’s desert, and once again the attention is on the playing surface. Carlos Alcaraz expressed his thoughts on the current changes.

Indian Wells is known for having the slowest hard courts on the ATP circuit. In a surprising move, the tournament organizers have switched the surface material to match what is used at the US Open and the Masters events in Miami, Cincinnati, and Canada. This alteration is expected to increase the speed of the ball.

“The court does feel a bit quicker, which honestly surprised me when I first saw it. This tournament has been held on the same surface for 25 years, so the change raises questions. I’m not sure why this decision was made. I’ll need to practice to fully understand it, although I believe I adapt well to various playing conditions. I feel I can play excellent tennis, even if the courts are somewhat faster, but I didn’t quite grasp the reasoning behind this change when I read about it,” said Alcaraz.

Despite his initial confusion, the young Spaniard tested the courts in the days following the surface switch and reported that his feelings were reminiscent of previous years. Alcaraz has captured the title at Indian Wells for the last two consecutive years. Daniil Medvedev, who has previously criticized the slow nature of the Indian Wells courts—calling it a “shame”—has also joined Alcaraz’s observations.

“To be honest, I find the courts very slow. I’m not sure what other players think, but after playing for two days, I don’t notice any difference. My racket actually fell, and the grip got damaged because the court is so rough. The rougher the surface, the slower it tends to play,” Medvedev explained.

While the change in surface may not effect the ball’s speed, it does appear to modify its bounce. Players like Aryna Sabalenka have expressed similar reservations about the changes. Regardless of the surface differences, Alcaraz is unconcerned and is aiming for his third win in the California desert. He aspires to achieve his first Sunshine Double in Miami, a goal that Rafael Nadal has yet to accomplish in his impressive career.