Daniil Medvedev condemned world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz to his first defeat
of 2026 to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
Medvedev held his nerve to see out a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) victory over Alcaraz, who was not at his best, particularly in the second set tie-break.
Earlier, Jannik Sinner wasted little time reaching his maiden BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells, racing to a 6-2 6-4 victory against fourth seed Alexander Zverev to set up a showdown with Medvedev on Sunday – live on Sky Sports Tennis from 5.30pm with the women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina up first.
Serving to save the first set at 2-5 after being broken in the fourth game, Alcaraz held to love, clinching the game with a stunning cross-court forehand to put a measure of pressure back on the former world No 1, although Medvedev responded in determined fashion to take it 6-3.
The Spaniard turned the screw at the start of the second set, breaking at the second time of asking to go 3-1 ahead, although he surrendered his advantage immediately, Medvedev finding a fine return to force an error on game-point.
Alcaraz scrapped his way to a 5-4 lead, but was unable to take either of two set points on Medvedev’s service, and although he held to love to go 6-5 ahead, his opponent powered his way to victory in the tie-break.
“Playing someone like Carlos, you play many times, you lose many times,” Medvedev said. “He’s an amazing player with amazing shots, defence, attack, return, everything. So, you need to be at your best.”
“I was hanging in, in the second set, as I could,” Medvedev added. “But I am playing great tennis, super happy to beat someone as strong as him.”
Tale of the Tape
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis
“Tennis is decided by a few different statistics. Break points Carlos was 0/2 and Medvedev was 4/5 so he broke his serve a lot more and played the big point better, particularly backing up his second serve. Those break points were set points and Carlos couldn’t get it done.”
Former British No 1 Tim Henman said: “It’s a phenomenal performance from Medvedev and what I love is that it emphasises that it’s not a forgone conclusion. We see Alcaraz and Sinner dominate so often, and certainly at the Grand Slams in the best of five sets it’s even harder, but I think Medvedev deserves so much credit.
“He’s come out and continued the play like he did against Jack Draper. So aggressive and hitting the ball so hard from the back of the court. So flat, so little margin for error and not missing.”
World No 2 Sinner produced a near-perfect display to earn his sixth consecutive tour-level win against Zverev in one hour and 23 minutes and seal a first championship-match appearance in the California desert.
The Italian, who lost to his great rival Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semi-finals in both 2023 and 2024, took an hour and 23 minutes to see off the German, converting three of the six break points he created to reach the final for the first time in relative comfort.
He broke in the fifth and seventh games on his way to taking the first set, and having survived a break point at 2-3, repeated the feat to go 4-3 ahead in the second before closing out the match.
“It’s a great achievement. The first time here in the final, it means a lot to me,” said Sinner. “The third time that I’ve played the semis here, so I’m very happy about that. Now let’s see what’s coming.
“Of course, the next one will be a very tough test, but I’m extremely happy. We have improved this week, this tournament, and that for me was the most important part.
“It was a great performance from my side. Sascha didn’t play very well today I felt like. I broke him a couple of times in the first set, which gave me confidence to continue, and I served very well at important moments. I’m very happy.”
Sinner closed out his 83-minute victory having won 83 per cent (24/29) of points behind his first serve.
He has now reached the final at all six hard-court Masters 1000 tournaments.
Tale of the Tape
Henman, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis
“Zverev kind of handed Sinner the breaks in the first set,” he said. “It wasn’t as if Sinner played brilliant tennis to win those points.
“He had opportunities in the early part of the second set and you felt as if Zverev could have got one of those, then he would have turned the table, but it was a little bit of a sense of déjà vu because you were waiting for Sinner to take those opportunities and it was very comfortable.”
Navratilova said: “Sinner backs his shots so well and then he attacks the return of serve so well. He clobbers Zverev on the second serve points and Zverev served well, but not well enough.
“Jannik just does not let you breath. He keeps pushing you and pushing you. His technique is perfect. Coach Darren Cahill has really improved his volley and transition to the net.”
Sunday’s final will mark the first meeting between Sinner and Medvedev since 2024. Both players are yet to drop a set this fortnight.
Medvedev has now won 18 sets in a row, a streak that began at the start of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“If I manage to maintain the level I had throughout the tournament and maybe even raise it, I will have my chances,” he said.
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