“Tennis needs him”: Jannik Sinner praises Daniil Medvedev after Indian Wells final win

Jannik Sinner described his victory at the BNP Paribas Open as a “great achievement” after defeating Daniil Medvedev in a tightly contested final, emphasising both the difficulty of the match and the preparation behind his title run in California.

The World No. 2 edged Medvedev 7-6, 7-6 in the Indian Wells final to secure his first trophy of the 2026 season. Sinner did not drop a set throughout the tournament and advanced to the championship match after defeating Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

The title continues a remarkable run for the Italian across the sport’s biggest hard-court events. With the victory in California, Sinner has now won all of the tour’s major “Big Titles” played on hard courts, including the ATP Finals and both hard-court Grand Slam tournaments.

The triumph also reinforces his position as one of the leading players on the ATP Tour. Currently ranked World No. 2 and trailing only Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Rankings, Sinner is enjoying another strong start to the season with a 13–2 win-loss record.

Sinner acknowledged that the final against Medvedev proved one of the most demanding matches of the week. The Russian arrived in the championship match after defeating World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, ending the Spaniard’s 16-match winning streak to begin the season.

The Italian noted that Medvedev’s confidence and level throughout the tournament made the final particularly difficult, especially when trying to return serve. “It was a very tough match today, so I’m very happy how I handled the situation on the court,” the 4-time Grand Slam champion said in press conference. “It’s great to see Daniil back playing at this level and I’m very, very happy.”

Sinner emphasised that Medvedev’s presence near the top of the sport remains important for the competitive balance of the ATP Tour. “He’s playing great tennis. He was very confident, winning already a couple of titles this year and coming here and performing very, very well. We don’t have to forget he’s a Grand Slam champion and that’s for a reason. He played great tennis, serving very well, and I struggled to return.”

The Italian also highlighted the unique tactical challenge posed by Medvedev’s style, describing his approach as something that stands out among top players. “Tennis needs him. He has a very unique style of playing, and seeing him back at this level is great. He’s improving a lot and is very aggressive. He has two different game styles when he serves and when he returns, so you have to face that.”

Sinner credited his performance throughout the tournament to careful preparation in the days leading up to the event. The Italian arrived in Indian Wells well before the tournament began in order to adapt to the desert conditions and complete extended training sessions.

That preparation, he explained, proved crucial during the final, which was played in warm conditions inside Stadium 1. “I’ve been here a week before the tournament started and it was very similar conditions as it was today. We put in very long days of practice and I felt very well prepared. I was not having big issues with the weather and with the heat, which is very positive for me.”

For Sinner, the result reflects the work carried out by his team behind the scenes rather than a single standout performance during the week. “There’s a lot of work behind it. We are working very well in everything, in a very professional way. To have this result is probably a consequence of the level that I’m trying to play.”

Despite the magnitude of the Indian Wells title, Sinner indicated that his focus quickly shifts toward the next challenge on the calendar. The Miami Open follows immediately as the second half of the Sunshine Double, leaving little time for extended celebrations.

Maintaining rhythm during this stretch of the season is a priority for the Italian. “Now I have a couple of days to relax. There’s not so much time between here and Miami, so it’s again an important tournament. We try to play the best tennis possible there too.”

He also acknowledged that the conditions in Florida will be significantly different from those in the California desert. “Miami is going to be very important. It’s the last hard-court event before the clay starts, and then we go back to Europe where the conditions are completely different. It will probably be faster and more humid, so we’ll see how it goes.”