Carlos Alcaraz‘s unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000. Daniil Medvedev will always be able to boast of being his first conqueror in the current season, with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3) in one hour and 37 minutes.
The 16-match winning streak comes to an end because the Russian played at the level that took him to the top of the men’s circuit and to avoid Novak Djokovic‘s Grand Slam at the US Open 2021. It will be he who will face Jannik Sinner on Sunday for the title in the Californian desert.
Medvedev took his revenge after losing to Alcaraz in the finals of the 2023 and 2024 editions. The world number one also saw his streak on outdoor hard courts come to an end, where he had accumulated 34 wins, the same as Pete Sampras.
The Muscovite started very well, with a 4-1 lead in 20 minutes. “You’ll get better. You can change the speed a little bit,” Samu told his pupil
Carlos lost his shoe at the point that left him with a 0-30 in the sixth game. Daniil was dominating because he was hitting from in front of the white line. “Come on, come on,” shouted the best tennis player on the planet as he closed the gap on the scoreboard.
Alcaraz had the look of those bad days, which for him are few and far between. He had not lost a match since the final of the ATP Finals in Turin on November 16.
“You have to get a little more out of the background. Use the drop shot,” continued the Spaniard’s Alicante coach: “If anyone here who can is you, let the tennis out. Dare man, what depends on you that does not win you. Lifted to his right and look at it, that you see before you take out.”
The Spanish tennis player left for the video library a running forehand that even his opponent had to applaud. Medvedev won the opening set. The seven-time Grand Slam champion had to come from behind as he did against Arthur Rinderknech.
Jimmy Butler and Charlize Theron among the fans
Carlitos took the lead for the first time with the 1-0 scoreline. In the stands were Jimmy Butler and Charlize Theron, among others.
Alcaraz made a statement in the fourth act, with a break that gave him a 3-1 lead. Medvedev’s backhand hit the net. The Spaniard looked uncomfortable even when he was winning. Daniil realised this and broke back immediately afterwards.
Two set balls
It went to four-all and 40-40 and the top seed received a time warning from Mohamed Lahyani. It didn’t matter. He went ahead 5-4. “Pull the crowd,” Samu warned him, knowing that the fans were with his player. Alcaraz had a first set point. And then another. But his opponent saved them thanks to his serve. The tiebreaker was the decider.
The Spaniard leaves the Californian desert with the same 400 points as last year. Next stop: the Miami Open. He will no longer have to play with the pressure of being unbeaten and each victory will be valuable points to maintain the ATP crown. Medvedev, meanwhile, returns to the top 10 in style.
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