Jannik Sinner will play Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final, with a new champion already confirmed.
Sinner overcame physical struggles to beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets, as he reached his first final of the year.
Many were expecting Sinner to play his rival Carlos Alcaraz, but he was beaten by Medvedev in a huge shock in the second semifinal.
Before this result even happened, Sinner explained that he had noticed something different about Medvedev’s game this year.
Jannik Sinner has spotted Daniil Medvedev playing more aggressively
Medvedev won just one Grand Slam match in 2025, and fell to his lowest ranking in six years.
However, after changing his team after the US Open, there have already been some notable improvements in results for Medvedev, who has already won two titles this year and is now into his third final at Indian Wells.
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After beating Zverev, Sinner was asked what he had noticed about a resurgent Medvedev in his post-match press conference, despite not knowing if he would play the Russian in the Indian Wells final yet.
Zverev has attempted a more aggressive game style this year, and Sinner thinks Medvedev is also doing something similar.
“Yeah, you know, he’s back to very, very high level,” Sinner said about Medvedev. “Very big serve, I feel like. You know, he’s returning very well. Very, very deep.
“Everyone is trying to be slightly more aggressive. You know, I feel like this is also, you know, Sascha [Zverev] today tried to be more aggressive. He didn’t play his best tennis today, I feel like, but everyone is trying to push.
“And I think Daniil has found again a good, good balance on court, winning a title in Dubai, coming here, making again great results. But also last time we played has been quite a while now. So let’s see what’s coming.”
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Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner Head-to-Head
The Indian Wells final will be a 16th meeting between Sinner and Medvedev, with the former leading the head-to-head 8-7.
While the overall head-to-head is very tight, Sinner has dominated their rivalry in recent years after winning eight of their last nine meetings.
The only match Medvedev has beaten Sinner in their past nine meetings came at Wimbledon in 2024.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2020 | Open 13 – Marseille (R16) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 1-6 6-1 6-2 |
| 2021 | Open 13 – Marseille (QF) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 6-2 6-4 |
| 2021 | ATP Finals (RR) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 6-0 6(5)-7 7-6(8) |
| 2022 | Vienna Open (QF) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 6-4 6-2 |
| 2023 | Rotterdam Open (F) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 5-7 6-2 6-2 |
| 2023 | Miami Open (F) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 7-5 6-3 |
| 2023 | China Open (F) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 7-6(2) 7-6(2) |
| 2023 | Vienna Open (F) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 7-6(7) 4-6 6-3 |
| 2023 | ATP Finals (SF) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 6-3 6(4)-7 6-1 |
| 2024 | Australian Open (F) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 |
| 2024 | Miami Open (SF) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 6-1 6-2 |
| 2024 | Wimbledon (QF) | Medvedev beat Sinner, 6(7)-7 6-4 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 |
| 2024 | US Open (QF) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 |
| 2024 | Shanghai Masters (QF) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 6-1 6-4 |
| 2024 | ATP Finals (RR) | Sinner beat Medvedev, 6-3 6-4 |
While they have played each other 15 times, Sinner and Medvedev have not actually played a match against each other since the 2024 ATP Finals.
Sinner is in his first Indian Wells final, while Medvedev is hoping it is third time lucky after losing both of his previous finals at the tournament against Alcaraz.
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