Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, the world number one, was just one step away from his third final at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 tournament, but was eliminated this Saturday in the semifinals by Russian Daniil Medvedev (n.11), who delivered one of the best matches of his life. Medvedev defeated Alcaraz, who also lost his unbeaten streak in 2026, 6-3 and 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 37 minutes. The Russian had not been able to beat the Murcian since the semifinals of the 2023 US Open, where he also shone with a superb level of play. Alcaraz saved the game, but the Russian took the first set 6-3. Medvedev, an inconsistent player capable of the best and the worst, showed today a tennis level that took him to the crown in New York in 2021 against Novak Djokovic or to reach that same final in 2023, avenged by the Serbian. To his solid and already known defensive game, in Indian Wells he added aggressiveness, with deep shots and even responding to Alcaraz's impossible volleys. This was not a one-off, in 2026 the Russian had just won the 500 in Brisbane and Dubai. Daniil Medvedev celebrates his victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal in Indian Wells. The Murcian and the Russian ended up in a 'tie-break' that was to decide the fate of the match. In that tie-break, Medvedev went up 4-1 after winning two consecutive points on return against Alcaraz. Alcaraz had won the next four meetings, including the Indian Wells final in 2024. Medvedev will face Jannik Sinner (n.2) this Sunday in the final, thus preventing the Italian and Alcaraz from facing each other for the first time in 2026. The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz also lost his unbeaten streak in 2026. The Russian extended his lead to 6-1 with his service games, with five match points in his pocket. The Spaniard saved the first two, but Medvedev closed the duel with a devastating 'ace' on the first one he served. After conquering Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024 (both finals against Medvedev), Alcaraz falls again in the semifinals in the California desert, as happened to him last year, then against the British Jack Draper. The Murcian will now cross the country from coast to coast to play next week's Miami Open, the tournament that gave him his first Masters 1000 of his career in 2022. After winning his game to make it 5-4, the Murcian had, on return, two set points that Medvedev saved. After not having a single 'break' point in the first set, Alcaraz broke Medvedev's service early in the second set, a game that put him 3-1 and on serve. But the Russian didn't let him consolidate it. He went 15-40 and took the first 'break' point to level the match. The heat took its toll on Alcaraz, who looked exhausted, out of breath. With 4-4 and 40-40, he received a warning from the chair umpire for exceeding the 25 seconds allowed to serve. Alcaraz never felt comfortable on the scorching court of Indian Wells.
