Daniil Medvedev showed the tennis world he is back to his best at Indian Wells, but it was Jannik Sinner who left the California desert with the trophy. Sinner won 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a final full of quality, completing a fortnight without dropping a set.
Medvedev’s run to the final was itself a significant achievement. Having battled travel difficulties that almost kept him from attending the tournament, the Russian recovered his best form and produced the performance of the week in the semi-finals against Sinner — a result from a previous event that showed he could still match the world number one.
The final was closely contested, with Medvedev’s precision tennis keeping Sinner honest throughout. A 4-0 lead in the second tiebreak suggested the Russian might force a third set, but Sinner’s mental resilience proved the difference as he won seven straight points to clinch the title.
For Sinner, the victory completed a personal mission — to win every major hard-court title in tennis. The Indian Wells crown now sits alongside the Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals, and five other Masters 1000 trophies in an extraordinary collection.
Medvedev can take consolation from his return to the world top 10, which becomes official on the following Monday. His form in California suggests the former world number one still has much to offer at the highest level of the game.
