“I’ve never seen Daniil playing like this”: Carlos Alcaraz praises Medvedev after Indian Wells semi-final defeat

Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged Daniil Medvedev’s performance after suffering his first defeat of the 2026 season in the semi-finals at Indian Wells. The Spaniard fell 6–3, 7–6 to the Russian on Saturday, ending a 16–0 start to the year and missing the opportunity to reach another final at the first Masters 1000 of the season

Despite the disappointment, the world No. 1 was quick to credit Medvedev’s level. The Russian has been in strong form throughout the tournament, extending a run that began with his title-winning campaign in Dubai. With the victory over Alcaraz, Medvedev stretched his streak to 18 consecutive sets won.

Alcaraz admitted that the Russian’s level from the beginning of the match made the contest extremely difficult. According to the Spaniard, the difference in the semi-final was less about his own performance and more about the consistency and aggression Medvedev maintained throughout the encounter.

“First of all, I just have to give credit to Daniil. I think he just played an amazing match,” stated Alcaraz during his press conference. “Since the start of the match until the end, he was playing unreal. I’ve never seen, to be honest, Daniil playing like this. He deserves completely the win today and to be in the final.”

The Spaniard also pointed to a handful of key moments in the opening set where he lost control of his service games, forcing him to spend much of the match defending from deep behind the baseline. “From my side, I just played a few games mostly in the first set where I just let go my serve game. Because of that I was running all the time against him. It was tough for me, but I’m proud that I fought until the last ball.”

Alcaraz explained that one of the biggest surprises in the match was the level of aggression Medvedev maintained while still limiting errors. The Spaniard expected the Russian to step forward tactically, but the consistency with which he executed that plan made the match particularly difficult.

According to Alcaraz, Medvedev’s ability to attack without sacrificing control forced him into physically demanding rallies, especially under the daytime heat at Indian Wells. “How aggressive he played all the time surprised me a little bit. I knew at the beginning that he was going to play aggressive, but the way he did it surprised me a lot because he didn’t miss as much as I expected. He was playing aggressive and he didn’t even miss.”

The conditions also contributed to the physical challenge of the match. Alcaraz said the combination of long rallies and high temperatures made it difficult to sustain intensity early in the contest, particularly against an opponent known for extended baseline exchanges.

“The rallies are long when you play against Daniil. You have to increase the power in almost every shot, and it feels like you’re wasting extra energy after every shot. With the heat, sometimes it’s really tricky to deal with all of that.”

As the match progressed, however, the Spaniard felt he began to adjust better to the situation and accept the physical demands of the encounter. “In the second set I started to feel much better. I realized what I had to do. I realized that I had to suffer, and I accepted it. That’s why the second set was better.”

Beyond the tactical elements of the match, Alcaraz also addressed the expectations that come with being one of the leading players on the ATP Tour. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a strong run since last season’s clay swing and the start of 2026, making him one of the players opponents are eager to challenge.

Alcaraz acknowledged that the current perception on tour means rivals often produce their best tennis against him. Rather than viewing that pressure negatively, he said he sees it as confirmation of the level he has established over the past seasons. “What I’m getting tired of a little bit is having that target on my back all the time. But I have to accept it and keep going. If players want to beat me, they have to play at their best level for one and a half or two hours.”

He added that his focus remains on personal goals rather than external expectations, emphasizing that his motivation comes from within his team and inner circle rather than the pressure to win every match. “I’m not thinking that I have to win every match. It’s just about chasing my goals, playing for myself, for my team and for the people close to me.”

Medvedev’s victory sets up a final against Jannik Sinner, who earlier defeated Alexander Zverev 6–2, 6–4 in the first semi-final. The Italian will now meet the Russian in Sunday’s championship match as the tournament concludes in the California desert.