Carlos Alcaraz Two victories from the matching epic Djokovic, Federer Milenstein

Carlos Alcaraz fell only a match in front of an epic milestone of Rafael Nadal when he wrote the history of Indian well on Thursday thanks to the quarter -finals.

The world No. 3 Alcaraz fought past the elements and a tricky Francisco Cerundolo to keep his campaign alive in tennis paradise, and saw the 25th seeds 6: 3, 7: 6 (4).

It was undoubtedly the hardest test of Alcaraz 'campaign so far, with the second seed steaming its first three games.

After that, the 21-year-old admitted that it was a challenge to find his best tennis under stormy conditions that influenced all players in the desert on Thursday.

“Well, I think today was a little harder than yesterday,” said Alcaraz. “I think it was more wind, colder. So the conditions were very hard.

“But I think I didn't play as well as yesterday, but I think I mean, tennis is about having a great day every day. So you have to play with your best that day.

“I think I just survived today. I only save, you know, many stops, many chances of his favor. Just really happy about it.

“I think I just played a decent match or a good match with these conditions.”

The victory for Alcaraz was a 16th win in Indian Wells for the Spaniard, who is the two-time defending champion at the Masters 1000 event.

It was also his 20th victory at the tournament in the direction of only 22 career games in Indian Wells, its only defeats that came against Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal in 2021 in 2022.

No man in history has ever won 20 games in Indian wells as quickly as Alcaraz has now, and only Rafael Nadal met this milestone faster at all Masters 1000 events.

The 22-fold Grand Slam champion only needed 21 games to achieve 20 games in Monte Carlo and Rome, both tournaments on his beloved Clay Courts.

While Alcaraz may have just missed a milestone from Nadal, the chance of emulating one of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer's greatest achievements is more than possible.

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So far, Djokovic and Federer have won the only two men who have won three consecutive Indian Wells titles, and Djokovic from 2014-16 and Federer from 2005 to 2006.

Alcaraz is potentially only two victories when it comes to reaching the two sizes of all time and joining them in this exclusive club.

And with the way the draw came out, the four-time Grand Slam champion is probably a warm favorite to do that.

The second seed Alcaraz is the only top four seeds that made the semi-finals, with Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud.

In order to join Djokovic and Federer in the Indian fountain history books, Alcaraz has to beat Seed Jack Draper on Saturday in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Should he do that, he would in the final he would have the 12th seed Holger Rune or the fifth seed Daniil Medvedev – which he has beaten in the final in the past two years.

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