Jannik Sinner can now claim with complete justification to be the master of hard-court tennis. His Indian Wells title, won with a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) victory over Daniil Medvedev in a tense final, means he has beaten every challenge the surface has presented across the Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals, and all six Masters 1000 events.
The Italian had entered the tournament knowing this was his final outstanding prize on hard courts, and he approached the fortnight with characteristic professionalism. Not a single set was dropped — a reflection of both his quality and his focus throughout the two weeks in California.
Medvedev was the last obstacle, arriving in the final with the form that had seen him beat Sinner in a recent semi-final. His performance in the Indian Wells final showed he can still compete with the best, and his 4-0 lead in the second tiebreak demonstrated that the match could have ended very differently.
Sinner’s seven-point run from that position was the moment that settled the championship. No other active player on the tour has consistently demonstrated the ability to raise their level under maximum pressure the way Sinner does, and his comeback against Medvedev was the latest example.
Sabalenka’s women’s title was the final word on a memorable day of tennis. Her 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory over Rybakina ended a four-match losing streak against the Kazakh, with the match-point save in the tiebreak providing the most dramatic moment of an outstanding final.