Match Report
Sinner leads Medvedev in Indian Wells final
Sinner and Medvedev are aiming to complete the set of hard-court ATP Masters 1000 titles
March 15, 2026
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Jannik Sinner in action in Indian Wells.
By Sam Jacot
Jannik Sinner leads the BNP Paribas Open final after winning the first set 7-6(6) against Daniil Medvedev on Sunday in Indian Wells.
Both Sinner and Medvedev are trying to complete the set of all six ATP Masters 1000 hard-court titles, joining Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Sinner, who is chasing his 100th Masters 1000 win in Sunday’s showdown, is competing in the Indian Wells final for the first time.
In a high-paced opening set, Medvedev picked up right where he left off against Alcaraz, swinging freely and putting Sinner under early pressure. The 30-year-old won the first six points of the match but could not convert that momentum into an early break of serve and then had to fend off pressure from the Italian at 3-3 and 4-4 on his own serve.
Sinner, who took a medical timeout at 3–4 to have his right ankle re-taped, was unable to capitalise on two break-point opportunities during the set and was frequently pushed from side to side by Medvedev’s clean, aggressive hitting. With little to separate them, Sinner was the more clinical in the tie-break. The 24-year-old seized the advantage when Medvedev left a forehand volley at 5/4 and then closed out the set on his second set point, having squandered his first at 6/5 when a forehand hit the net.
Medvedev is making his third appearance in the title showdown, having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the championship match in 2023 and 2024. The 30-year-old gained revenge against Alcaraz on Saturday in the semi-finals and is now bidding to become the first player to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner in the same event since Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals.
Medvedev lifted the trophy in Dubai last month and has continued that form in California, where he has yet to drop a set. He is guaranteed to return to the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday but will rise to No. 9 if he can force a comeback and improve to 8-8 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Sinner.
Sinner is on a 10-match winning streak at Masters 1000 level after winning Paris in November. If the Italian clinches his 25th tour-level trophy on Sunday, he will also become the first man to win consecutive Masters 1000 crowns without losing a set since the series began in 1990.
