Indian Wells, March 15 (NationPress) Daniil Medvedev showcased an impressive display to end World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz’s remarkable start to the year, winning 6-3, 7-6(3) in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Open and snapping his 16-match unbeaten streak in 2026.

This triumph not only halted Alcaraz’s impeccable run but also marked Medvedev’s entry into his first ATP Masters 1000 final since the championship match of Indian Wells in 2024. The Russian now prepares to face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who secured his spot in the final by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets earlier.

Medvedev adopted a strategy of controlled aggression, effectively dictating rallies with his precise groundstrokes and reliable serving. He took charge early in the match, breaking Alcaraz’s serve in the first set and maintaining pressure with powerful returns and solid baseline play.

Despite having previously defeated Medvedev in the Indian Wells finals of 2023 and 2024, Alcaraz attempted to rally in the second set. However, Medvedev’s composure under pressure proved vital. Facing two set points at 4-5, the Russian delivered exceptional serves and capitalized on errors from Alcaraz to stay in contention, ultimately leading the set to a tie-break.

Once in the tie-break, Medvedev continued his strong performance, finishing the match in a swift one hour and 37 minutes. His efficiency was reflected in the stats: he converted both break points he earned and won four of the five break points he faced. Furthermore, he excelled on his second serve, winning 74% of those points.

After the match, Medvedev acknowledged the difficulty of competing against Alcaraz, who is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded players on the tour.

This victory gives Medvedev his tour-leading 18th win of the season and advances him to his third final of the year. The 30-year-old has already clinched titles at the Brisbane International and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in 2026, aiming to maintain his undefeated record in finals this season.

Awaiting him in the title match is Sinner, who triumphed over fourth seed Zverev with a dominant score of 6-2, 6-4 in his semi-final clash. The Italian delivered a polished performance, confidently striking from the baseline and winning 83% of points on his first serve.

This win marks Sinner’s sixth consecutive victory over Zverev at the tour level and secures his inaugural appearance in the Indian Wells final, making him the first Italian man to reach the championship match of this tournament.

The upcoming showdown will reignite the competitive rivalry between Medvedev and Sinner, with the latter holding a slight 8-7 advantage in their head-to-head encounters. Both competitors enter the final in exceptional form, having not dropped a set in the tournament thus far.

With Alcaraz’s winning streak now at an end, Medvedev will strive to conclude his impressive run in the California desert by clinching the title against a confident and record-setting Sinner.