End of an impressive streak

Alcaraz Falls to an Inspired Medvedev in Indian Wells: End of an Impressive Streak

The Murcian suffers his first defeat of the season against the Russian, who reaches the final of the Masters 1000 to face Sinner.

Spanish tennis was shaken in Indian Wells with the first defeat of the season for Carlos Alcaraz. After an impressive streak of sixteen consecutive victories, the young prodigy from Murcia found himself surpassed by a Daniil Medvedev in a state of grace. The Russian, who had fallen to Alcaraz in their four previous matches, proved to be an insurmountable wall on this occasion, putting an end to the Spaniard's hegemony.

Medvedev, 30 years old and current number 11 in the world, took well-deserved revenge for the two finals lost in this same tournament against Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024. The final score of 6-2 and 7-6 (3), sealed in one hour and 37 minutes, gives the Russian a new opportunity to lift the trophy of this Masters 1000 ATP.

Alcaraz's unbeaten streak on hard and outdoor court, which totaled 34 consecutive wins, came to an abrupt halt. This is only the second tournament in the last fourteen in which the Spaniard has not reached the final. The architect of this feat has been Daniil Medvedev who seems to have recovered the version that led him to be number one in the world and US Open champion.

The Russian comes to this stage with a streak of nine consecutive wins. His journey in the United States began with the Dubai ATP 500 trophy under his arm, adding to his previous victory in Brisbane. The balance of the season for Medvedev stands at a resounding 18-3, while Alcaraz remains at a still formidable 16-1.

Despite the defeat, Alcaraz had the opportunity to turn the match around. In the second set, he had two set points with 5-4 in his favor, but Medvedev's defensive solidity, combined with greater aggressiveness and success at the net, allowed him to come back and force the tiebreaker.

The Murcian expressed his frustration during the match, telling his technical team about the difficulty in reading Medvedev's remains and the lack of sensation with the ball. His coach, Samuel López, recognized the excellent performance of the Russian: “He is playing an egg. We accept and continue.” For his part, the manager Albert Molina tried to encourage him: “Confidence!”, “it can be done!”

Alcaraz fought, but full conviction did not accompany him. He met a Medvedev who dominated the tiebreak with authority, going ahead 6-1 and closing the match with an impeccable first serve. The Russian's performance was brilliant in all facets of the game: serve, backhand and return.

“To beat Alcaraz you have to play your best tennis, and that's what happened,” Medvedev analyzed after the match. The Russian, under the tutelage of Swedish coach Thomas Johansson since last summer, has rediscovered his best level.

Indian Wells will crown a new champion, succeeding the British Jack Draper, eliminated in the quarterfinals by Medvedev himself. In the final, the Russian will face the Italian Jannik Sinner, who defeated Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4. Sinner, who has lost 8 of 15 meetings against Medvedev, including the last three, will seek his first title in this prestigious tournament.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Alcaraz vs. Match Medvedev in Indian Wells

Who won the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells?
Daniil Medvedev won the match against Carlos Alcaraz.

What was the result of the match?
The result was 6-2 and 7-6 (3) in favor of Daniil Medvedev.

Is this Carlos Alcaraz's first loss of the season?
Yes, this was Carlos Alcaraz's first loss in the 2026 season.

Who will Daniil Medvedev face in the Indian Wells final?
Daniil Medvedev will face Jannik Sinner in the final.

What is the historical balance between Alcaraz and Medvedev before this match?
Before this match, the balance was 6-3 in favor of Carlos Alcaraz.

What Alcaraz record was broken with this defeat?
His streak of 34 consecutive victories in hard court and outdoor tournaments was broken.

What did this victory mean for Daniil Medvedev's ranking?
This victory will allow Daniil Medvedev to regain a place in the top-10 world.

How ​​many titles has Carlos Alcaraz won this season before Indian Wells?
Carlos Alcaraz had won two titles: the Australian Open and the ATP 500 in Doha.

Who is Daniil Medvedev's coach?
His current coach is the Swede Thomas Johansson.

Who was the Indian Wells champion last year?
The Indian Wells champion in 2025 was Jack Draper.

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