A battle between elites Jannik Sinner (ATP 2) and Daniil Medvedev (ATP 11) saw Italy’s Jannik Sinner claim the win and the title. A battle between two hardcourt demons, both boasting a long frame with Sinner 6’3 and Medvedev 6’6, both used their lengthy fulcrums to push the match to their limits under the scorching Californian heat.
First set
Medvedev opened up with a fault but recovered to claim the first point of the match. Continuing his explosive momentum, the Russian claimed the first game of the first set very quickly, only letting Sinner get just the one point in.
Sinner came out in the second game and still looked more sluggish, with his opponent clearly not showing his thirty years of age compared to the Italian’s 24. Medvedev recovered from a net shot by Sinner to claim 0-30 on what felt an eternal rally at 28 shots. Thrusting his way back into the second game within a flash, it was Sinner who equalled the scoring.
Sinner conceded the first double fault of the match in the 4th game despite appearing fresh now, but didn’t let the slip disrupt his flow, continuing the see-saw nature of the match to level it once again (2-2)
Sinner called for a trainer to slice the tape on his foot at the changeover in the 7th game. It was much needed, Medvedev was hitting flatter and meaner while Sinner looked shocked, a fair amount off his usual self. Recovering from 2 break points to a deuce, it was the ATP 11th who once again, edged the lead.
Straight back onto the court, a 134 driving serve re-ignited the match-up between the two, who before this match, hadn’t lost a set all tournament. The start of the normal Sinner masterclass begun, with his expected variety of shots retaliating against the previous barrage of Medvedev strikes.
But the Italian just couldn’t capitalise on the few Medvedev mistakes and clutch the lead despite two break-point opportunities. After a five minute game between the two forces, it was Medvedev who reclaimed the lead in the first set at five games to four.
The first set came to a close via tie-break, their first since the same match saw a 5-set thriller in Wimbledon 2024 QF’s. Medvedev won that contest. He couldn’t win this one. A misjudged pulled-back racket, a devious backhand from the ATP No.2 and a serve from the depths of hell meant Sinner claimed the first set, proving his worth at the top of the tennis world.
Second Set
Where Sinner left in the first set, he picked up and continued in the second set, claiming the first game very quickly.
Medvedev committed his first double fault of the match in the second game, a moment of fatigue slipping in, and added insult to injury by letting Sinner win a point to make it deuce, a point Medvedev should have snatched up greedily.
The Russian did not let off however, claiming the advantage and then the game. The see-saw of the first set continued in the second. Sinner stormed the next game. Medvedev retaliated in the next.
At [1]2 – [0]2 Sinner, it could be the Italian’s 6th ATP 1000 Masters title, or Medvedev could take it to a decisive third set. The World number two pushed the narrative in his favour, but the ex-number one wasn’t having it. Serving masterclasses from both athletes saw the games equal, only with a number three now, [1]3 – [0]3 Sinner.
Daniil equalled the scoring yet again, not allowing the Italian to serve for the championship at [1]4 – [0]4. Looking to be the first player to beat both Sinner and Alcaraz in a tournament since Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Nitto ATP finals, the Russian was certainly looking a little more able to do just that.
Sinner continued to dominate using his serving, his constant edge over Medvedev throughout this match. Medvedev needed to reciprocate this feat to stay in the championship and not lose his second set of the tournament, two sets which would see him as a runner-up.
Sinner’s first point of his championship game was astonishing. Darting around like a cheetah, swinging like a blind man hitting a pinata, he lobbed Medvedev to raise the crowd off their feet, and subsequently their heart rates.
Fifteen all quickly swung in the opposite direction, with Medvedev clawing it back to thirty-fifteen. A top-flight standard rally saw Daniil take another point, creating a small, vital distance in the tenth game of the second set.
Sinner put the thoughts of the title back in his head when a long Medvedev shot made it 40-30, but the Russian saw out the game to continue his pursuit of the title-deciding third set.
It was a nervy few minutes for the next set as the see-saw style of this Indian Wells final was epitomised in the eleventh game of the second set. Sinner had to reach into the pits of his energy and willpower to slingshot an inch-perfect shot down the line, narrowly missed by Medvedev, and a piercing serve which concluded the game.
Sinner came absolutely sprinting out the blocks, smashing a shot with erratic pace to claim love-fifteen. Following this, he lost the point from Medvedev’s second serve, a recurring theme throughout the entire match. Medvedev further boasted a comfortable smash down the line on a forehand, followed up by a backhand smash that symbolised a winner.
A shot wide from Sinner meant that yet again, it would come to a tie-break, but would Medvedev play this well and lose in straight sets?
Three straight points in the tie-breaker from the Russian shouted no. A further double fault from Jannik concurred. Age wasn’t a factor affecting this final, consistency was. Or was it?
Sinner came back with three straight points, stating ‘Whatever you can do, I can do it just as well’. One of the wildest points I have ever personally witnessed, such extraordinary tennis, took Sinner to the championship point. This tie-breaker had it all. A fault from Medvedev. A return of dreams from the Italian on the second serve, a long shot from Medvedev.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS IN THE ITALIAN’S HANDS.
This win means Sinner has taken every hardcourt ATP 1000 Masters event. Dominance in the Sincaraz era continues. Medvedev had the win at bay throughout the whole match, but Sinner took his stats where they mattered and edged the win. A 25th career title just shy of the two hour mark means that himself and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus leave California with nothing shy of total joy and victory.
Doing the same in Paris, this tournament means Sinner is the first player in ATP Masters events to win two consecutive tournaments without dropping a single set. A display showing why he is one of the two dominating forces in tennis right now.
Extrapolation Sport 
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