Alcaraz Unhappy with Faster Indian Wells Courts, While Rune Welcomes the Change
Carlos Alcaraz has expressed his frustration over the decision to speed up the courts at Indian Wells, while Holger Rune sees the change as a positive step.
Traditionally known for its slow, gritty hard courts, Indian Wells has been resurfaced this year by Laykold, the same company that provides surfaces for the Miami Open and U.S. Open. The move aims to create more consistency across tournaments, but not all players are thrilled.
Faster courts tend to favor big servers, which could pose a challenge for two-time defending champion Alcaraz, whose game thrives on creativity and shot-making rather than raw power. The Spaniard, who arrived in California late Monday, has yet to test out the new surface but is puzzled by the change.
“Honestly, it’s a change I didn’t understand when I saw it. For 25 years, the tournament had the same court, and now it has changed. I don’t know the reason why they did it,” Alcaraz said.
Despite his initial concerns, the world No. 2 remains confident in his ability to adapt.
“I have to practice on it. I consider myself a player who adapts very well to different surfaces and playing conditions.”
Meanwhile, Holger Rune welcomes the decision to speed up the courts, believing it will make matches more exciting.
“In general, I think it’s better if all tournaments on the ATP Tour get a little faster because the balls are slow these days,” Rune explained. “It makes the games cooler because you have slow balls but slightly faster courts—it creates an interesting balance.”
The Danish star also believes that standardizing court speeds will benefit players.
“There are too many fast balls on fast courts and slow balls on slow courts. So I think Indian Wells and other tournaments are trying to find a fine balance, and that’s good for the players.”
Rune is set to play his opening match against Frenchman Corentin Moutet tomorrow.
