Athletistic / Tennis. Russia’s strongest tennis player Daniil Medvedev will participate in the Masters final in Indian Wells for the second year in a row. If earlier the Russian called the tournament in the Californian desert one of the worst on the calendar (the playing conditions in Indian Wells are different from regular tournaments on hard and are more like a game on clay), now he clearly had to change one’s mind. Medvedev is about to make Russian tennis history again – so far no Russian player (men’s singles) has won Indian Wells.

But for the final victory, Daniil will have to create a sensation and beat Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is the current champion of Indian Wells, was initially among the three main favorites in the current draw and on the way to the final he managed to break the incredible winning streak of Jannik Sinner (19!). However, Medvedev is hungry for revenge, because a year ago Alcaraz gave the Russian no chance in the final (3:6, 2:6). Does Daniel have a chance, or should we prepare for the worst in advance?

In personal meetings, the score during the confrontation between Medvedev and Alcaraz is 3-2 in favor of the Spaniard. Their last match took place in the group stage of the ATP Final Tournament 2023 in Turin (Italy) and ended with the victory of Carlos with a score of 6:4, 6:4. However, it is worth noting that this meeting was fleeting for Daniil, because he managed to qualify in advance for the semi-finals of the final tournament of the year and was able to afford to save his strength. But before that, it was the Russian who emerged victorious from his face-to-face. It was in the semi-final of the 2023 US Open.

Photo source: ATP

At the Slam in New York (USA) last year, Medvedev confidently reached the semi-finals, showing excellent tennis and eradicating the mistakes that prevented him from collecting more ranking points in July August. But during the US Open semi-final, Carlos Alcaraz was waiting for Daniil. The Spaniard was then the reigning winner of the US Open and dreamed of playing in the final in New York for the second year in a row.

Experts agreed that Alcaraz should beat Medvedev. Many dreamed of seeing another confrontation between Carlos and Novak Djokovic, who at that time was already waiting for his opponent in the decisive match of the Grand Slam tournament. The last meeting with Alcaraz did not add confidence to the Russian – in the semifinals of Wimbledon 2023, the Spaniard did not give Dana a set (6:3, 6:3, 6:3).

  • Djokovic gave Medvedev a gift. The Russian is ready to make history at Indian Wells

The semi-final match started in a very tense atmosphere. The tennis players did not want to give the advantage to their opponents and played their serves brilliantly. In the first set, fans didn’t see any breaks. As a result, Medvedev showed himself stronger in the tiebreaker – 7:6 (7-3). In the next set, Danya was so good that he allowed Carlitos to win only one game and simply beat the favorite – 6:1. The Spaniard’s face and performance clearly showed that he was discouraged and didn’t know what to do.

However, in the third match, the Russian, as often happens with him, simply sank at one point. Unfortunately, Daniil often turns off during several games. It was enough for Alcaraz to get a break and then win the set – 6:3. It felt like a return.

The fourth set was very nervous. Each of the tennis players complained several times to the judge about the fans, and Daniil also insulted the lighting of New York’s center court. Both players held their serve with confidence and it could have been a tiebreaker again. But in the sixth game, Medvedev showed himself simply inimitable, made several superb plays and managed to break. In the end, it was enough to win the set and the match – 7:6 (7-3), 6:1, 3:6, 6:3. The Russian created a sensation and eliminated the current tournament winner.

Photo source: US Open

It is worth noting the words spoken by Carlos after this match:

“I thought that at the moment I was the best tennis player and that I could find the right solutions when the match was not going the way I wanted.” However, I have now changed my mind. I’m not yet mature enough to handle these kinds of matchesAlcaraz said at a press conference.

A little excursion into history before the Masters final in Indian Wells was necessary to restore confidence to Daniil Medvedev’s fans. On the night of March 18, 2024, he will not yet be the favorite in their match against Carlos Alcaraz, but it could even help the Russian by relieving him of some of his responsibility. The Indian Wells tournament is played on the same surface as the US Open (hard) in the same country and only presents aesthetic differences. That’s why we believe in Medvedev and want him to become the first Russian tennis player to win in the Californian desert.

Nikita Serbakov, Athletistic



Athletistic