<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/carlos-alcaraz" target="_blank">Carlos Alcaraz</a> and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/medvedev-beats-tiafoe-to-reach-indian-wells-final-1201494.html" target="_blank">Daniil Medvedev</a> won't be distracted by streaks, stats or even the lure of World No. 1 when they clash for the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday.</p>.<p>Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who became the youngest number one ever after his triumph at the US Open last year, can supplant Novak Djokovic and return to the summit with a third Masters 1000 title.</p>.<p>Medvedev, meanwhile, is riding a 19-match ATP win streak that saw him win three titles in three weeks at Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/djokovic-to-miss-miami-open-over-lack-of-covid-vaccination-1201501.html" target="_blank">Djokovic to miss Miami Open over lack of Covid vaccination</a></strong></p>.<p>Now that he's in the title match in a two-week event, Medvedev is the first player since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach four finals in five weeks.</p>.<p>For both, a first Indian Wells title is the goal that concerns them.</p>.<p>"I know if I win tomorrow I'm going to become the number one," Alcaraz said. "I will try not to think about that, just to think about the things that I have to do.</p>.<p>"I have to make everything perfect. That's all I'm going to think about tomorrow."</p>.<p>Similarly, Medvedev won't be focused on any historical aspect of his streak -- only on extending it.</p>.<p>"When you do well and then you hear some of these stats, it's just great, but at the same time I know that it comes with wins," he said. "The most important is to try to win this tournament and to win these matches."</p>.<p>Medvedev got past a late match speed bump in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, needing eight match points to put the 16th-ranked American away.</p>.<p>Alcaraz won a tense first set then cruised in a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Italian Jannik Sinner.</p>.<p>Both Medvedev and Alcaraz said their only prior meeting -- Medvedev's 2021 second-round victory at Wimbledon -- was no gauge for this final.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-cruises-into-indian-wells-final-with-win-over-maria-sakkari-1201267.html" target="_blank">Aryna Sabalenka cruises into Indian Wells final with win over Maria Sakkari</a></strong></p>.<p>"He was definitely not the same player as he is right now," Medvedev said. "So in a way it's going to be like a first match between us in terms of how we're going to go tactically or physically or tennis-wise.</p>.<p>"It's going to be great fun to play against him."</p>.<p>Added Alcaraz: "If I'm not wrong, when I played against him he was number two in the world, I just started to play on the tour.</p>.<p>"Right now it's totally different. It's going to be, I think, a totally different match."</p>
<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/carlos-alcaraz" target="_blank">Carlos Alcaraz</a> and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/medvedev-beats-tiafoe-to-reach-indian-wells-final-1201494.html" target="_blank">Daniil Medvedev</a> won't be distracted by streaks, stats or even the lure of World No. 1 when they clash for the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday.</p>.<p>Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who became the youngest number one ever after his triumph at the US Open last year, can supplant Novak Djokovic and return to the summit with a third Masters 1000 title.</p>.<p>Medvedev, meanwhile, is riding a 19-match ATP win streak that saw him win three titles in three weeks at Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/djokovic-to-miss-miami-open-over-lack-of-covid-vaccination-1201501.html" target="_blank">Djokovic to miss Miami Open over lack of Covid vaccination</a></strong></p>.<p>Now that he's in the title match in a two-week event, Medvedev is the first player since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach four finals in five weeks.</p>.<p>For both, a first Indian Wells title is the goal that concerns them.</p>.<p>"I know if I win tomorrow I'm going to become the number one," Alcaraz said. "I will try not to think about that, just to think about the things that I have to do.</p>.<p>"I have to make everything perfect. That's all I'm going to think about tomorrow."</p>.<p>Similarly, Medvedev won't be focused on any historical aspect of his streak -- only on extending it.</p>.<p>"When you do well and then you hear some of these stats, it's just great, but at the same time I know that it comes with wins," he said. "The most important is to try to win this tournament and to win these matches."</p>.<p>Medvedev got past a late match speed bump in a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) semi-final win over Frances Tiafoe, needing eight match points to put the 16th-ranked American away.</p>.<p>Alcaraz won a tense first set then cruised in a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Italian Jannik Sinner.</p>.<p>Both Medvedev and Alcaraz said their only prior meeting -- Medvedev's 2021 second-round victory at Wimbledon -- was no gauge for this final.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-cruises-into-indian-wells-final-with-win-over-maria-sakkari-1201267.html" target="_blank">Aryna Sabalenka cruises into Indian Wells final with win over Maria Sakkari</a></strong></p>.<p>"He was definitely not the same player as he is right now," Medvedev said. "So in a way it's going to be like a first match between us in terms of how we're going to go tactically or physically or tennis-wise.</p>.<p>"It's going to be great fun to play against him."</p>.<p>Added Alcaraz: "If I'm not wrong, when I played against him he was number two in the world, I just started to play on the tour.</p>.<p>"Right now it's totally different. It's going to be, I think, a totally different match."</p>