Alcaraz Survives, Slams Shot Clock
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Indian Wells Round of 16 [https://www.olympics.com/en/news/indian-wells-open-2026-alcaraz-survives-tricky-encounter-with-france-s-rinderknech-to-move-onto-round-of-16] but slammed the tournament's new shot clock rule [https://www.the-express.com/sport/tennis/201597/carlos-alcaraz-tennis-shot-clock].
Alcaraz criticized the accelerated shot clock, saying he felt rushed and couldn't play his best. He noted the quick turnaround between points didn't allow him time to recover or execute his strategy effectively. His second-round match at Indian Wells saw him defeat Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(1), 7-6(4). Despite the win, the shot clock clearly impacted his mindset. The new rule is designed to speed up play, but Alcaraz believes it negatively affects the quality of the game. Other players have also voiced concerns about the increasingly fast pace of matches.
