Jannik Sinner is the new Indian Wells champion, finally claiming the last hard-court Masters 1000 title that eluded him.
He beat Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, showcasing his incredible mental toughness to win two tiebreaks.
As usual, both players provided their immediate post-match thoughts on stage, with Jannik Sinner admitting he was delighted to see the Russian back competing at the top again.
Jannik Sinner’s championship speech after the Indian Wells final
Sinner began with a message for Medvedev, stating: “I want to start with Daniil and your team. It’s great to see you back playing this kind of level.
“I know you practice very, very hard. You are a great player and have a great team behind you. Keep going. Keep pushing hard. I wish you all the very best for the season.”
Will Jannik Sinner complete the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros this year? 🤔
If not, who do you think will win Roland Garros?
Sinner joined an exclusive list including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with his win over Alexander Zverev earlier this week. And now, with the title in hand, his legacy is only expanding.
Daniil Medvedev’s message to Jannik Sinner after losing the Indian Wells final
Medvedev, unsurprisingly, was not wholly serious whilst delivering his speech after the final.
He had a message both for Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and smiled as he claimed: “I would like to congratulate Jannik. Amazing tennis, tough to play against you. I tried my best. It was a good match, but big congrats to you for everything you are doing.
What would have happened if Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played at the same time as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
“Whenever you play Carlos, I love to see it, so I was happy to not let Carlos play you again, but I love watching you guys and watching you go for it until you win and never stop, and that’s to your team as well.”
Alcaraz admitted that Medvedev surprised him during their match. It’s fair to say he’s surprised everyone throughout this event, and now seems ready to consistently challenge for elite honours again.
Daniil Medvedev proves he is ready to compete for Grand Slam titles again
If we have learned anything from this week, it’s that Medvedev is well and truly back.
After all, he beat some of the world’s very best players on his way to this final, and pushed Sinner all the way in search of the title too.
Had he held his nerve in the second-set tiebreak, who knows what might have happened had the match gone into a deciding third set?
His opponent in the final admitted he was happy to see him back, but if he maintains his level, that stance might change.
After all, Medvedev endured a torrid Grand Slam campaign last year, winning just one main draw match. This year, it could be so drastically different, as he seems to be finding the form needed to compete for a second major title.
