Daniil Medvedev ended Carlos Alcaraz's perfect start to the 2026 season, stunning the Spaniard with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory in the semifinals of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Medvedev ended the 22-year-old world number one's 16-match winning streak by handing him his first defeat of the season.
"Playing against someone like Carlos, you play so many times, you lose so many times," Medvedev.
"He's an incredible player with incredible hitting, defense, offense, return, everything. So, you have to be at your best."
Medvedev controlled the match with aggressive play and displayed the tennis that once took him to world No. 1.
In the second set, Medvedev trailed by a break early and then faced two set points at 4-5.
He then served with confidence and forced Alcaraz into errors on both points, thus denying Alcaraz any chance of a comeback.
Medvedev won four of the five break points he faced overall, converting both of the opportunities he created, according to ATP statistics. He also won 74 percent (23/31) of his second-serve points.
