ATP Indian Wells 2026 Round-Up | Jannik Sinner claims the crown after outlasting Daniil Medvedev in two dramatic tie-breaks

Jannik Sinner claimed the 2026 BNP Paribas Open title after defeating Daniil Medvedev 7–6(5), 7–6 in a tightly contested final in Indian Wells. The Italian prevailed in a match where opportunities on return were scarce, with both players protecting their service games throughout the contest before Sinner proved more composed in the two tie-breaks that ultimately decided the championship.

The victory marks Sinner’s first title at Indian Wells and continues a strong stretch in his rivalry with Medvedev. The world No. 2 has now won the majority of their recent high-profile encounters, including several finals over the past two seasons. For Medvedev, the result represents another narrow defeat against one of the players who has frequently blocked his path in the biggest events.

The opening stages of the final quickly established the pattern that would define the entire match. Medvedev began confidently on serve and used his deep cross-court backhand to extend rallies and push Sinner behind the baseline. The Russian looked comfortable in longer exchanges, forcing the Italian to remain aggressive whenever the points developed from the back of the court.

Sinner responded by relying heavily on his serve and first-strike tennis. The Italian repeatedly shortened rallies, using strong first deliveries and early baseline aggression to keep control of his service games. As the set progressed, both players held with increasing authority, and break opportunities never materialised.

Medvedev faced the most difficult moment of the set midway through when he fell behind 0–30 and later confronted two break points. The Russian responded by returning to longer baseline exchanges, particularly through his backhand cross-court pattern, which allowed him to escape the pressure and maintain parity.

With neither player able to gain a decisive edge, the set moved into a tie-break. The breaker remained balanced until the crucial moment arrived on the thirteenth point, when Medvedev committed a forehand error during a baseline exchange. Sinner immediately capitalised, serving down the T to secure the set 7–6(5).

The second set unfolded in almost identical fashion, with both players continuing to dominate behind their serves. Sinner opened the set with a comfortable hold before Medvedev responded with a confident service game of his own. The rhythm of the match remained unchanged, as neither player was able to establish sustained pressure on return.

Sinner’s serving numbers remained particularly impressive throughout the set. The Italian won 92 percent of points behind his first serve and more than 70 percent on his second delivery, limiting Medvedev’s ability to create attacking opportunities when returning.

Medvedev, however, matched Sinner game for game. The Russian continued to rely on accurate serving and disciplined baseline play, repeatedly forcing Sinner into longer rallies and maintaining a steady tempo from the back of the court.

At 5–5, Sinner briefly faced pressure when Medvedev pushed the score to 15–30 on the Italian’s serve. Sinner responded with two strong deliveries to regain control of the game and shift the pressure back to his opponent. Medvedev answered with another efficient hold to force a second tie-break.

The decisive tie-break initially appeared to be turning in Medvedev’s favour. The Russian surged to a 4–0 lead after capitalising on a brief dip from Sinner, putting himself within reach of forcing a deciding set. Sinner, however, responded with composure. The Italian steadied his game and gradually reclaimed control of the rallies, refusing to rush points and instead rebuilding momentum point by point.

From 0–4 down, Sinner produced one of the most decisive sequences of the match, winning seven consecutive points to completely overturn the tie-break. The run secured the set 7–6 and sealed the Indian Wells title in straight sets.

Statistically, the match reflected how evenly matched the two players were on serve. Medvedev recorded seven aces and won 77 percent of points behind his first serve, while Sinner struck ten aces and an exceptional 90 percent success rate on his first deliveries. Neither player lost a service game during the match.

For Sinner, the title represents another milestone in his rapid rise at the top of the ATP Tour and further strengthens his recent dominance in the rivalry with Medvedev.

The Italian leaves Indian Wells with his first title in Tennis Paradise and another major victory in one of the most compelling rivalries currently shaping the men’s tour.