"Do I feel good about it? Not really. But I also don't feel like I cheated or something" - Mixed feelings for Daniil Medvedev after contentious incident in victory over Jack Draper

Daniil Medvedev's quarterfinal win over Jack Draper was clouded by a controversial incident near the end of the second set, which resulted in the crowd directing boo's towards the two-time champion. He cleared the situation up in his press conference after the match, with a fourth Indian Wells semi-final in sight.

Medvedev took a dominant first set 6-1 as he looked to take down the reigning champion. The largely contentious event took place at 5-5 in the second set with Medvedev 15-0 up on Draper's serve. During a rally, the British number one put his arms in the air immediately after striking the ball. The point continued with Medvedev slamming the ball into the net.

The Russian then asked for a video review, arguing that the gesture Draper committed distracted him during that rally. Under the rules, this was classed as a form of hinderance and Medvedev was rewarded the point and a 0-30 lead. It was not a popular decision in some parts of the stands, with Draper visibly upset with the decision, turning towards the umpire as he shared his frustration. “If it really obstructed him, then fair enough,” he stated during the exchange. “We play through it all the time and there’s no way it distracted him enough.”

Draper never recovered his concentration, and Medvedev capitalised. He broke the serve before seeing it out in a controversial end to an entertaining match. The Brit went to Mededev after the match and said, "You won the match fair and square, but I don't think it distracted you enough.” He responded by saying, “I don't feel great. I understand.”

The questions in the press conference were obviously dominated by the on-court drama. Medvedev was willing to answer them. "Yeah, I mean, now I can actually even talk more, because I have more info," he began. "I think I should have done it the moment it happened, like, I should not have waited until the end of the point, and then it would be a bit more, probably available."

He stated his case. "But if you look at my first forehand, I do, after this happens, I could have gone for more. I was kind of tiny bit distracted. So I said to the umpire, like, 'What should I do?' Should I do it next time straightaway? And she goes, like, If you want, you can video review. I said, Okay, video review. And whatever she decide, she decide, and she decided that it's a point for me. So I take it."

In the end, he was unsure of himself on the decision, conflicted with it being at such a crucial part of the match. "That's basically it. Was I distracted big time? No. Was I distracted a bit? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? I don't know."

He did not believe there was any trouble between the two, saying they are still on good terms after a tense situation. "I think so, I mean, it's more a question for him because, right, because I would be okay with him after what happened, so it's more a question to him," he commented.

"I think we have a great relationship, so I don't think one incident like this could make the outcome, especially, as again, I told him straightaway, if she thinks it's not enough, 15-All, we go on. If she thinks it's enough, well, then, it's Love-30, I'm sorry, and that's what happened."

He was quizzed on whether it was morally the right thing to do. "As I say, if you look on the first forehand I do after it happened, I think I could have done a better shot if there was no gesture from Jack. So as I say, was I distracted big time? No. Do I feel good about it? Not really. But I also don't feel like I cheated or something."

Anyway, it was nice for him to have something go his way. "So I got a bit distracted. I let it go, I let the referee decide. I had a lot of calls against me in my life, and I usually don't handle them well. To get one on my side, I guess feels good as well."

Next up for Medvedev is a challenge against the world number one Carlos Alcaraz after he also took down a Brit in his quarterfinal, this time 2021 champion Cameron Norrie in straight sets. While Alcaraz has yet to lose this year, Medvedev is also full of confidence after backing up his Dubai title win with a semi-final at Indian Wells.

"I saw he won the first set, so I don't want to go too early because Cam is a tough opponent for him. But if it's Carlos, I feel like I'm playing great, very good tennis. I never want to jump into conclusions like best tennis of my life or whatever. I'm playing very good."

The faster court settings suit him perfectly, and he is capitalising. "I feel like the court is a bit faster since the two times I have played him. The balls are different. So I feel like it's a good chance to try to, you know, to show my best tennis against him."

Nevertheless, he kept his feet firmly planted on the ground with the task at hand a very tough one. "But he's the toughest opponent we have right now, him and Jannik, maybe a bit debatable who is the toughest. So it's a very tough opponent, and if it's him, I need to show my absolute best and try to beat him."