"I wanted to go back to Monaco, but the weather was very bad. So I said, 'Let’s come here early'" - Preparation a key factor in Jannik Sinner's title triumph at Indian Wells

Jannik Sinner has cemented his name into the record books again. He reigned supreme in Indian Wells after picking up a tight win in the final against Daniil Medvedev thanks to a brace of tiebreakers. Afterwards, he explained how the poor weather in Monaco aided his preparation for the tournament while setting his sights firmly on the elusive Sunshine double.

In a match with zero breaks of serve and two break point opportunities, tiebreak situations would seem inevitable. They were both extremely closely fought, but the class and quality of Sinner prevailed to take home a maiden Indian Wells title.

The hot conditions did not get in the way of Sinner's charge to glory, which he acknowledged after his title triumph. "It was hot — very hot conditions. But I’m very happy," he said on The Big T podcast. "We know each other very well, but the last time we played was a long time ago. I saw him playing yesterday against Carlos [Alcaraz], and he was very aggressive. So I knew I had to serve very well and then see what I could do in the return games. The second-set tiebreak was a huge comeback. I was down, but I served very well afterwards and that helped me come back. I’m extremely happy."

If you are able to get the better of Alcaraz, then you must be a very talented tennis player. That is what Medvedev did in the semi-final stage, winning 6-3, 7-6(3) and continuing his blistering form showcased at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships when he proved too good for the entire field.

Sinner, however, turned out to be a different prospect. The Italian would be wary going into a final against a very inform competitor who recently ended the world number one's unbeaten streak in 2026. The Russian had been a lot more aggressive when playing, and that made Sinner react and tactically adapt on court to get the upper hand.

"For me, I tried to go for my shots, even though at the beginning I was missing a little bit," he stated. "He was actually playing more aggressively than I was. So I tried to move him around a little bit on the forehand. If you go too far back and give him space, he’s very good at opening the court."

Obvious nerves played a part in a seismic final which could kickstart his 2026 after some disappointing campaigns. "I tried to play tactically in the right way. At times I did that well. At times I could have gone for my shots a bit more or tried to come forward towards the net. But there was also a bit of tension. I knew what I was playing for today. It’s a huge achievement for me and for my team."

He was adamant that the Qatar Open was not a good showing on his behalf. "In Doha I felt like I wasn’t playing my best tennis. But that can happen — it’s normal not to always play at your top level."

A late change of place could have hugely benefited him for his title charge, motivated to tread new ground in a sport he is starting to complete. "After Doha I wanted to go back to Monaco, but the weather was very bad," he admitted. "So I said, 'Let’s come here early and prepare for this tournament.' It’s one of the tournaments I had never won, so I wanted to focus on the process and prepare well."

Sinner had reached the semi-final stage in 2023 and 2024 before his suspension prevented him from stepping foot in California in 2025. It remained the only hardcourt Masters 1000 tournament he was yet to get a hold of, but that is obviously not the case anymore.

The time spent out there beforehand could have helped him out in conquering this quest. It was handy that he knew people on standby, ready to hang out with. "I also had a couple of friends here who helped me relax," he said. "We played a little bit of golf and in the evenings we played some PlayStation. It was nice to have something other than tennis."

Golf, especially, is a sport that he enjoys playing, switching off from tennis to play a completely different game. Many current and former tennis players take up this hobby, including Alcaraz. While some of them are quite good, that is not the case for the four-time Grand Slam champion. "Don’t talk about the handicap," he smiled. "I just like to go around with a bit of music and enjoy it. I don’t really care about how I play in golf — at least there."

As aforementioned, Sinner has now won all the Masters 1000 hardcourt tournaments. That is not the end of the tale. Adding to that, he has also won the Australian Open, US Open, and ATP Finals. This makes him the youngest player to triumph in all the major hardcourt events. Some achievement by a player who has made it his surface in recent times. Even the 24-year-old could not believe what he had accomplished. "I’m also very surprised. Of course, I know this is a surface where I play very well."

In truth, Sinner can practically play on any surface. He showed his grass expertise by romping to the Wimbledon title last year and has proved to be clinical on clay. Sinner won his first final against Alcaraz on the surface back in 2022 at the Croatia Open. The Spaniard has since had the last laugh, defeating him in both the Rome Open and Roland Garros finals last year.

For Sinner, he does not care what surface he is playing on, with his love for the sport powering him through. "I just like playing tennis in general," he said. "A couple of years ago I changed my mindset a bit. Before, I would come to tournaments thinking too much about how I felt physically or mentally. Now I arrive with a different mindset. I try to adjust my game depending on how I feel and create fewer problems in my head."

This change of mindset could have been the catalyst in why he is one of the best players in the world, and why he is in line to become a great of the sport. "At the end of the day, tennis is a mental sport. I try to stay very calm, especially in important moments, like today. Now whatever comes is only positive. I’m extremely happy with how we are working. If we keep working hard and pushing, the results will come eventually. And if not, at least we know we tried our best."

In the crowd watching on was the 2001 champion Andre Agassi. Sinner has built up a flourishing relationship with the eight-time Grand Slam champion. While he was not able to see the highlights of that triumphant run 25 years ago, he did spot him on the screen in a nice moment.

"At one point they showed him on the screen. I looked around and saw he was sitting right behind the court," he explained. "It’s great to have a nice relationship with him. We had the same coach, which is special, and he’s obviously one of the best players ever. It’s nice to see him in the stands."

Adding to that, in 2001 Agassi became the fifth player to achieve the Sunshine double, following in the footsteps of Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, and Marcelo Rios. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have since added their names to the list in fine fashion, both achieving it on three separate occasions.

Sinner has the opportunity to become the latest name on this list, something that he will not want to pass by on as he shared his intentions. "Yes. Now I want to relax for a couple of days and hopefully be ready for the next tournament."