Carlos Alcaraz faces in-form Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells SF | ATP Tour
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Undefeated Alcaraz and in-form Medvedev clash in Indian Wells SF
Alcaraz leads Medvedev 6-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head clash
March 13, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Daniil Medvedev in consecutive Indian Wells finals in 2023-24.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Two in-form ATP Tour players will take center stage at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday evening, when Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev clash for a place in the Indian Wells final.
Alcaraz, unbeaten in 16 matches to start 2026, is eyeing the best of the Tour ahead of their semi-final. World No. 1, however, faces a tough test in Medvedev, who arrived in the desert fresh from winning the title in Dubai and is one of just two men – along with Jannik Sinner – yet to drop a set over the two days.
It’s time for the semi finals⏰@carlosalcaraz it takes @DaniilMedwed to get a place in the finals⚔️
The chart shows the players’ data from this tournament so far, compared to their 52-week rankings on the ATP Tour 👀#TennisInsights | @atptour | @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/6uNP9N2T3I
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) March 13, 2026
In a thrilling episode of Saturday’s clash, Medvedev was the man Alcaraz beat in back-to-back Indian Wells finals to secure his two ATP Masters 1000 titles in 2023 and 2024. But Medvedev believes that this year’s conditions may shake up the momentum a bit in his Lexus-ATP series, Head2Head26 following the Lexus-ATP.
“If it’s Carlos, I feel like I’m playing very well—very good tennis,” Medvedev said before the Spaniard completed his victory over Cameron Norrie in the final. “I don’t really want to get into the finale [and say it’s the] best tennis of my life or whatever. I play very well.
“I feel like the court is faster from the two times I played him, so I feel like it’s a good opportunity to show my best tennis against him. But he’s the toughest opponent we have right now. Him and Jannik, maybe it could be talked about who is the strongest.”
After a difficult 2025, in which he did not qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in seven seasons, Medvedev has rebuilt the momentum. The 30-year-old has won titles in Brisbane and Dubai this year and, with victory in Alcaraz on Saturday, will leapfrog Novak Djokovic into second place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.
Sadly, Medvedev has also found many of the qualities that have made him a constant threat on hard courts. He worked consistently, absorbed pressure from deep and showed controlled aggression when needed. Alcaraz, meanwhile, continued to stamp his authority on the sport.
With his victory at the Australian Open in January, the 22-year-old became the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam, and followed that milestone with an ATP 500 title in Doha. In his quest for a third title at Indian Wells, Alcaraz skillfully mixed in his trademark combination of power, speed and refinement.
“Tennis is about choosing the right shot in about a split second,” Alcaraz said after hitting 19 winners in the quarter-finals against Norrie. “Sometimes I just miss the shot because I didn’t choose the right one. In my mind, I have seven, five options, sometimes it’s difficult for me to choose the right one.”
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While Alcaraz was pushed to midnight – dropping a set to Arthur Rinderknech in the third round – he has come through with impressive victories over Casper Ruud and Norrie to reach a fifth straight semi-final in the desert.
Medvedev comes with momentum of his own, having won his last 16 sets, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, against defending champion Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. A run that underscores the confidence he brings to his ninth meeting with Alcaraz, which promises to be another important chapter in their rivalry.
