Macci Advises Medvedev to Play Aggressive Against Alcaraz at Indian Wells

Former coach Rick Macci believes Daniil Medvedev has a chance to upset world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz if he returns closer to the baseline and dictates play.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:22pm

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Daniil Medvedev defeated Jack Draper to reach the semifinals of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, where he will face world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Former American pro and respected coach Rick Macci has shared his advice for Medvedev to have a shot against the unbeaten Alcaraz, suggesting the Russian play more aggressively and return closer to the baseline to take control of the match.

Why it matters

Medvedev is looking to complete the set of titles at all six hard-court ATP Masters 1000 events, having previously won in Cincinnati, Shanghai, Paris, Canada, and Miami. Defeating the dominant Alcaraz would be a major accomplishment, as the Spaniard holds a 6-2 head-to-head advantage over Medvedev and has won their last three meetings.

The details

Macci believes Medvedev needs to play an aggressive style and not let Alcaraz dictate play from the baseline. The coach says if Medvedev can return closer to the net and control the tempo, he has a chance to upset the world No. 1, though Macci acknowledges it will be a closely contested match between the two top players.

  • Medvedev defeated Draper 6-1, 7-5 in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12.
  • The Medvedev-Alcaraz semifinal is scheduled for Saturday, March 14.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

A Russian professional tennis player who has won 5 ATP Masters 1000 titles and is looking to complete the set by winning the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Carlos Alcaraz

The world No. 1 tennis player from Spain who has been unbeaten so far in 2026, winning 16 straight matches including two previous victories over Medvedev.

Rick Macci

A former American professional tennis player and respected coach who has provided advice for Medvedev's strategy against Alcaraz.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, if he plays aggressive dictates more and does Not return serve from L.A. His court position gives the Magician too many options to transition but the Russian Spider is a fighter and it could be a nail biter.”

— Rick Macci, Tennis Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Medvedev-Alcaraz semifinal will advance to the final of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Sunday, March 16.

The takeaway

This high-profile matchup between two of the world's top players highlights the competitive nature of men's tennis, with Medvedev looking to finally break through against the dominant Alcaraz and complete his collection of ATP Masters 1000 titles.