Preview Indian Wells 2026 ATP Final | Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev set to clash for maiden Indian Wells title

96 players came, just two remain. A new name will be engraved on the Indian Wells trophy with Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev taking the tournament by storm. The dominant pair have flexed their muscles and ascerted themselves as the hardcourt specialists they are widely recognised as. They will go head-to-head for the honour of calling themselves the first Masters 1000 champion of 2026.

Sinner has never won the title at Indian Wells. He reached the semi-final on two occasions in 2023 and 2024 before his suspension last year forced him to sit out and watch from a distance. This year, he is back with a vengeance as he looks to win the final hardcourt Masters 1000 title, which is not in his collection.

The Italian has not been up to speed in 2026 up to his lofty standards. He was on the end of a surprising defeat against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open as he looked to defend his title. A five-set thriller went the way of the 38-year-old as Sinner looked towards the next challenge. That would come in the Qatar Open where it felt very likely that a Carlos Alcaraz-Sinner final for the first time in 2026 would occur. It would not with Jakub Mensik taking him down in the quarterfinal.

The Italian was hopeful to get back to his imperious best at Indian Wells, and that is what he has done in a tournament where he has not reached his full potential before. He is widely recognised as the best hardcourt player in the world, with this and the Miami Open the last two tournaments on hardcourt until August, with action on clay and grass set to follow in the coming months.

It is also a great time to pick up some ranking points. With Sinner being suspended this time last year, he goes into a period where he has nothing on the line. He will be gaining all the time right until the Italian Open. 650 points have been added for reaching the final as he closes the huge gap to Alcaraz in number one, but 1000 would move him to just under 2000 points behind with the Spaniard having to defend a few big titles on clay.

Focusing in Indian Wells, Sinner got his tournament underway on the front foot. Dalibor Svrcina was comfortably defeated in just over an hour before Denis Shapovalov was defeated in straight sets. He survived a scare against Joao Fonseca in a first meeting between the pair. The Brazilian sensation had set points in the first set but his inability to convert them saw Sinner nick a remarkably tight match. It was a lot more routine against Learner Tien in the quarterfinal stage before he made it six wins in a row against world number four Alexander Zverev.

For many people, Medvedev reaching the final is a huge surprise. His form since the start of last year has been quite unremarkable compared to the prior heights he has reached in tennis. It does seem, however, that he is back to his best.

The signs were there at the start of 2026 when he won the Brisbane International, but more doubts would rise with disappointing campaigns in the Australian Open, ABN AMRO Open, and Qatar Open, halting his progress and momentum gained from a couple of deep runs at the end of 2025 in the Shanghai Masters and Paris Masters.

He got back in the top step in a scintillating showing at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. He was unbeatable all week, taking down Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets to book his spot in the final. Medvedev would return the next day, but not to compete in it with his opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, retiring. The 30-year-old then managed to eventually find a way out of the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict, just about making it to California in time, with doubts rising on whether he would even be able to make it.

Medvedev made it and has not let the previous events faze him as he looked to keep up his positive form at Indian Wells. He lost the final in 2023 and 2024, both times against Alcaraz in straight sets before being defeated by Hogler Rune at the semi-final stage last year.

A first Indian Wells title is almost in reach after a fantastic week of action. He kicked it off with a comfortable win over Alejandro Tabilo before repeating the events against Sebastian Baez. Alex Michelsen was unable to get a set off the former world number one as he continued to plough on. Controversy headlined a brilliant performance against the reigning champion, Jack Draper, before he mustered up Alcaraz's first defeat in 2026, ending what had been an insane run from the 22-year-old.

The first six matches went the way of Medvedev. The momentum would firmly swing in the direction of Sinner after he started to assert his dominance in the sport. He has since won eight of the previous nine meetings against Medvedev who like most players has struggled to pick up a positive result against a rampant Sinner.

However, they have not competed since the ATP Finals in 2024. It has been a while since they stepped on the court together, and while their tennis careers have gone in different directions, Medvedev will be a huge threat in the final after taking down an inform Alcaraz a round before. Sinner will be the favourite due to his record and his phenomenal ability on the court, but Medvedev should not be counted out in what is set to be a thrilling final.