Indian Wells: Alcaraz ends Sinner’s streak, set Medvedev final rematch

Carlos Alcaraz delivered a brilliant response to Jannik Sinner’s hot start to defeat the Italian in a thrilling semi-final on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Open.

Alcaraz’s 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory snapped Sinner’s 19-match winning streak and ended the Italian’s perfect 16-0 start to the 2024 season. By levelling the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 4-4, Alcaraz also denied Sinner the opportunity to pass him for World No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“I stayed strong mentally,” said Alcaraz, who pointed to his head after the win. “I think that’s a really important part in this game. You have to be strong mentally if you want to overcome these kind of matches, a set down against someone that’s playing an unbelievable game. I’m really happy with the things that I’ve done after that.

“I changed my style a little bit, I changed my game a little bit and I think it worked very well. I’m really happy to beat Jannik and be in the final again.”

The first man to reach the Indian Wells final as defending champion since Roger Federer in 2018, the Spaniard will bring an 11-match winning streak at the event into the title round, where he will seek his first trophy since Wimbledon.

This is the second straight year in which Alcaraz defeated his good friend and rival in the Indian Wells semi-finals, and he will now seek to retain his title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Sunday’s final against Daniil Medvedev who defeated  home favourite Tommy Paul 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, and set a rematch of last year’s Indian Wells final.