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Daniil Medvedev stunned world number one Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday, handing the Spanish sensation his first defeat of 2026 with a dominant 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory to set up an Indian Wells title clash with Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz, who started the year with a victory at the Australian Open and followed it with a title in Qatar, entered the semi-final with a perfect 16-0 record in 2026.
However, Medvedev, fresh off his triumph in Dubai last month, proved too strong. His aggressive baseline play and superb serving consistently kept Alcaraz under pressure, with the Spaniard often scrambling to stay in the points.
The Russian, a former world number one, showed remarkable resilience, especially in the second set when Alcaraz broke early to lead 3-1. Medvedev responded immediately, breaking back and eventually dominating the tiebreaker, winning 7-3.
His performance was highlighted by a long rally in the ninth game of the second set, where Medvedev’s control of the rallies left Alcaraz gasping for breath.
Reflecting on his victory, Medvedev expressed his delight, saying, “Super happy to beat someone as strong as he is. It’s a great feeling.” He also praised Alcaraz’s all-around game: “He’s an amazing player with amazing shots, defence, attack, serve, return, everything. So you need to be at your best — and I was.”
The win extends Medvedev’s ATP win streak to nine matches and sees him reach the Indian Wells final for the third time, where he will face Jannik Sinner.
Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, overcame Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4 in the other semi-final. Medvedev, having lost to Alcaraz in the 2023 and 2024 finals, will be aiming to finally capture the prestigious title on Sunday.
