Daniil Medvedev handed Carlos Alcaraz his first loss of the season to book a second straight final at the Indian Wells Masters.

The winner of the Dubai event a fortnight ago in a walkover, played it out to reach the Californian title match where he will face Jannik Sinner after defeating Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Sinner, who will play his first final at the desert venue, easily accounted for Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4.

World No. 1 Alcaraz was unable to extend his 16-match win streak as Medvedev took revenge for his finals loss here two years ago against the Spaniard.

“It’s an amazing feeling to beat someone like Carlos, No. 1 in the world. In a way, when you play him,” Medvedev said.

“It’s just a great feeling to play them (top players). and to beat them, of
course, is even better.

“So super happy with my level today and looking forward to tomorrow, of course.”

He added: “Playing someone like Carlos, you play many times, you lose many times. He’s an amazing player with amazing shots, defence, attack, return, everything. So, you need to be at your best.”

Medvedev came back from a break down in the second set and saved four of five break points. close out the straight-sets victory in one hour and 37 minutes and claim revenge against the Spaniard, who had beaten him in the Indian Wells final in 2023 and 2024.

“I was hanging in, in the second set, as I could,” Medvedev said. “But [I am] playing great tennis, super happy to beat someone as strong as him.”

Alcaraz dominated on winner, striking 24 to the 15 of Medvedev but also committed 30 unforced errors in defeat.

The 30-year-old stands 7-8 against Sinner going into the Sunday final.

Medvedev will be playing his third final of 2026 after winning Brisbane and Dubai, where he advanced as Tallon Griekspoor withdrew injured before that final.

Neither Medvedev not Sinner have dropped a set over the last 10 days at Indian Wells

“If I manage to maintain the level I had throughout the tournament and maybe even raise it, I will have my chances,” Medvedev added..

Sinner finally got over the semi-final hump here after losing twice at this stage as he dominated Zverev  

“”The first time here in the final, it means a lot to me. It’s the third time that I’ve played the semis here, so I’m very happy about that,” world NO. 2 Sinner said.

“Of course, the next one will be a very tough test, but I’m extremely happy. We have improved this week, this tournament, and that for me was the most important part.

“It was a great performance from my side. Sascha didn’t play very well today. I  broke him a couple of times in the first set, which gave me confidence to continue, and I served very well at important moments. I’m very happy.”

Main photo:- Danill Medvedev celebrates – ATPTour.com

Daniil Medvedev picked up where he left off a week ago with a second straight defeat of China’s Shang Juncheng to set up a showdown at the ATP Dubai event with Stan Wawrinka.

Medvedev, who turned 30 this month, defeated a limping opponent 6-1, 6-3 seven days after sending Shang out in Doha in straight sets.

The third seed booked a Wednesday appointment with three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka, a fellow former champion at the Aviation club who is playing his final season at age 40.

Medvedev won the title in Brisbane last month prior to the Australian Open, where the former No. 1 now ranked 11th reached the fourth round.

He won the Dubai title in 2023 while Wawrinka was champion a decade ago.

Medvedv had the edge over the 262nd-ranked Shang, who suffered with a foot injury in 2025.

That problem came back to haunt him in the closing stages of the 66-minute loss to Medvedev, with the Chinese outsider noticeably limping on his dodgy right foot.

“I needed to play the same tactics and level that I had last week” the winner said. “We both knew what we had to do – it just depends on who is playing better.”

Medvedev, who lost a quarter-final here a year ago after holding four match points, added:

“The first set was great, I was serving wel in the big moments and breaking him.

“The second was 50-50 and I could tell he was injured a bit. I’m happy I was able to win. I noticed he was suffering a bit in the long rallies (due to heat).”

Medvedev beat Wawrinka a year ago in Rotterdam, their last meeting; the pair of veterans have also faced off at three of the four Grand Slams dating to Wimbledon, 2017.

Marta Kostyuk went down to a 6-4, 6-3 loss at the Brisbane International in Sunday’s final, with the Belarus winner and the Ukrainian finalist strategically avoiding each other after the match.

World No. 1 Sabalenka kissed her biceps in victory while Kostyuk did not mention her hated rival’s name at any time after the loss.

There was some solace for the nation under attack from Russia and ally Belarus as Elina Svitolina won her 19th career title with a defeat of Xin Wang 6-3, 7-6 (6) in Auckland.

Sabalenka, winner of two of the last three editions of the Australian Open, claimed the trophy for a third time in Brisbane, earning her second in a row in the Queensland capital.

“I want to say a few words about Ukraine,” Kostyuk said post-match  “I play every day with a pain in my heart.

“There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it’s -20 degrees outside right now, so it’s very very painful to live this reality every day.

“I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukranian fans and flags here this week … Slava Ukraini.”

Sabalenka lost the 2025 Australian Open final to Madison Keys, and now hopes to earn the crown back for a third time. 

“Thank you to my team for handling me. I’m really the toughest one to handle, and you guys are the toughest people in the world if you can handle me,” the winner told fans before addressing her boyfriend in the team box.

“Thank you to my boyfriend. Hopefully, soon I’ll call you something else, right?

Let’s just put a bit of extra pressure on, right?”

Main photo:- French Open 2023 Ne’r the twain shall meet. Aryna Sabalenka (XXX) and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk maintain their distance as their two homelands are at war by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd