MATCH PREVIEW and PREDICTION | 2024 Indian Wells Open: Daniil MEDVEDEV set for semi-final tussle with home hero Tommy PAUL

The second semi-final which will be the dessert to the main course of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will see a cherry on top of the cake as Daniil Medvedev faces off against Tommy Paul for a spot in the Indian Wells Open final which will take place on Sunday.

Perhaps the more understated of the two ties with the winner of the whole tournament expected to come out of the second, but don't write off either of these players. Our preview looks ahead to the second semi-final with the main talking points, a prediction and the Head to Head.

Of course the glaring tie we could get in the event of both players getting through is Daniil Medvedev facing off against Jannik Sinner in a repeat of their Australian Open final which saw the latter come out on top after the Russian led after two sets. Since then, Medvedev has barely played and was seemingly worn out after Melbourne.

He lost in the semi-final of Dubai to Ugo Humbert. A feat which isn't too unexpected given the run and form of the Frenchman as of late. But he will look to put that right after a tough run in. After taking down Roberto Carballes Baena, he survived in three against Sebastian Korda and then won in straight sets against Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune. Albeit the latter perhaps was more dominated by the post match jibes between the pair at the net than the match. But after his Melbourne disappointment, it's been no time to lick his wounds as Medvedev has gone again and after losing last year in the final to Carlos Alcaraz, it could be a repeat on either end either from a crushing loss in California or Melbourne or it could yet be Tommy Paul's time.

The ever improving Tommy Paul is the other half of the semi-final as the home hero aims to give the home crowd something to celebrate especially after Coco Gauff fell by the wayside to Maria Sakkari in the WTA side of the draw. During the tournament, he has only similarly faced one tough test scoreline wise with Alex Michelsen, Ugo Humbert, the Djokovic conqueror Luca Nardi and Casper Ruud, the latter seeing a three set win being the tricky test.

It is a career so far of steady progression and after reaching an ATP 500 final last year and also the Canadian Open semi-final, the next step will be an ATP 1000 final and he has another chance to do it here. He so far this year has won in Dallas and then reached the final of Delray Beach. Having never been past the fourth round at Indian Wells, he reached the semi-finals for the first time.

Up well inside the top 15, Paul has perhaps been the American who has not been discussed as much amid the rise of Taylor Fritz and partly Frances Tiafoe, but in reality Paul has been the most consistent for some time and he has more than just a first ATP 1000 title on the line. He could become American Number One if he wins the title this weekend. A fairytale story on home soil so to speak and one that wouldn't be a shock to those who've followed his upward trajectory.

But Head to Head wise, Medvedev leads without defeat. He is 2-0 up and last thrashed him at the China Open in Beijing 6-2, 6-1 so perhaps a bit ominous for Paul. All eyes though will be on Medvedev for which revenge slot he could take so in reality, Paul could thrive.