Medvedev Stuns Alcaraz to Reach Indian Wells Final

Russian star denies world No. 1's perfect season, sets up clash with Sinner

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:20am

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In a clash of current and former world No. 1 players, Daniil Medvedev stunned Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6(3) to snap the Spaniard's perfect 16-0 start to the season and advance to the BNP Paribas Open final. Medvedev saved two set points in the second set and physically wore down the younger Alcaraz in the searing desert heat. The Russian will now face Jannik Sinner in the final, seeking his third Indian Wells title.

Why it matters

Medvedev's victory over the dominant Alcaraz shakes up the men's tennis landscape, denying the 22-year-old Spaniard a chance to continue his perfect start to the year. The win also sets up an intriguing final between Medvedev and Sinner, two of the game's rising stars, in the oppressive desert conditions.

The details

Medvedev saved two set points at 4-5 in the second set, slamming a serve winner on the second break point. He then broke Alcaraz's serve to level the set at 5-5 before forcing a tiebreaker, which he dominated to clinch the victory in one hour and 37 minutes. The Russian was more assertive than in previous meetings with Alcaraz, stepping in to strike offensively from the baseline and serving with more ambition.

  • Medvedev and Sinner will face off in the Indian Wells final on March 16, 2026.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

A former world No. 1 player who has won the US Open and is seeking his third Indian Wells title.

Carlos Alcaraz

The current world No. 1 player and reigning Australian Open champion, who was seeking to extend his perfect 16-0 start to the season.

Jannik Sinner

The Italian player who will face Medvedev in the Indian Wells final, seeking his first title at the event.

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What they’re saying

“It's just a great feeling. You play someone like Carlos many times, you lose many times. He's an amazing player so you have to be at your best and I was. I saved one or two set points and one or two break points. I was hanging in there super happy to beat a champion like him.”

— Daniil Medvedev (10sballs.com)

“Well, first of all, I just have to give credit to Daniil. I think he just played an amazing match. Since the start of the match until the end of the, you know, the match, he was playing unreal, I gotta say. I have never seen, to be honest, playing Daniil like this.”

— Carlos Alcaraz (10sballs.com)

“He's back to very, very high level. Very big serve. I feel like. You know, he's returning very well. Very, very deep.”

— Jannik Sinner (10sballs.com)

What’s next

Medvedev and Sinner will face off in the Indian Wells final on March 16, 2026 in oppressive 93-degree heat.

The takeaway

Medvedev's stunning victory over the dominant Alcaraz sets up an intriguing final between two of the game's rising stars, Medvedev and Sinner, in the punishing desert conditions. This result shakes up the men's tennis landscape and denies Alcaraz the chance to continue his perfect start to the season.