Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Daniil Medvedev produced a commanding performance to halt the blistering start to the season of World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 7-6(3) in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Open and ending his 16-match unbeaten run in 2026.
The victory not only stopped Alcaraz’s flawless start to the year but also propelled Medvedev into his first ATP Masters 1000 final since the 2024 Indian Wells championship match. The Russian will now face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who secured his place in the final with a straight-sets win against Alexander Zverev earlier in the day.
Medvedev approached the contest with controlled aggression, dictating rallies with precise groundstrokes and consistent serving. The former world No. 1 seized the initiative early, breaking Alcaraz in the opening set and maintaining pressure with deep returns and solid baseline play.
Alcaraz, who had defeated Medvedev in the Indian Wells finals in both 2023 and 2024, attempted to mount a comeback in the second set. However, Medvedev’s composure under pressure proved decisive. Facing two set points at 4-5, the Russian delivered strong serves and forced errors from the Spaniard to stay alive before eventually taking the set to a tie-break.
Once there, Medvedev maintained his momentum, producing a clean and clinical finish to seal the match in one hour and 37 minutes. His efficiency was evident in the numbers: he converted both break opportunities he created and won four of the five break points he faced. He also dominated behind his second serve, winning 74 per cent of those points.
