There are so many statistics in tennis, so many records, that match reports often become filled with useless data that adds very little. But there are times when a single fact says absolutely everything, as is the case with Jannik Sinner and his 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4) victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Indian Wells Masters 1000.
It was not just another title for the Italian, who had been without trophies since November 2025; it was confirmation that in today’s tennis there is no one more reliable than him when it comes to playing on hard courts. Not even Carlos Alcaraz.
With his triumph in the Californian desert, Sinner ticked off the last box he needed to become champion of all nine major hard-court tournaments. He now has the full collection: the Australian Open, the US Open, the ATP Finals, Miami, Canada, Cincinnati, Shanghai, Paris, and now finally Indian Wells.
To put this into perspective, it is worth remembering which players have achieved this — and at what age — since the ATP Tour was established in the early 1990s. The list is reduced to three names: Roger Federer (at 30), Novak Djokovic (at 31), and Andre Agassi (at 32), although the calendar in the American’s era was slightly different. Sinner did it at 24. A precocity that is frightening.
Australian Open 🏆🏆
US Open 🏆
Indian Wells 🏆🆕
Miami 🏆
Toronto 🏆
Cincinnati 🏆
Shanghai 🏆
Paris 🏆
Nitto ATP Finals 🏆🏆Jannik Sinner becomes the youngest man to win EVERY major hard-court title. pic.twitter.com/Z2Vsch3Zu0
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 15, 2026
Sinner overturns a 4–0 deficit in the decisive tie-break
To take his place on this altar reserved for the chosen few, the Italian had to “catch the octopus” in Indian Wells.
Although Sinner has had Medvedev’s number (8–1 in their last nine meetings), the Russian arrived in the final of the season’s first Masters 1000 playing his best tennis in a very long time. Just ask Alcaraz, whom he defeated in the semi-finals without flinching. “I had never seen Daniil play like that,” said the Spaniard, the ATP world No. 1.
Medvedev again produced superb tennis in Sunday’s final. He is certainly one of the most unorthodox players on tour, with strokes and movements that seem to defy physics in their strangeness. Yet when he is confident and playing on the baseline, he is almost unplayable. He defends and attacks at the same time, reaches everything and appears everywhere on court. The nickname “the octopus” is no accident. The problem for Medvedev is that to beat Sinner on hard courts you need something extra — a touch of luck in addition to your best level.
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“It’s incredible, I’m speechless, it was an extremely tough final. I played against the best version of Medvedev. I’m very happy because we have worked very hard for this. It makes me very happy because it’s a very special moment,” said Sinner during the trophy ceremony after receiving the cup on centre court from Agassi.
Champion in Brisbane and Dubai in the opening months of 2026, Medvedev appears to be returning to the path that once took him to the top of the world rankings. Playing as he did this weekend against Alcaraz and Sinner, he will undoubtedly have plenty to say on the biggest stages.
In Indian Wells he has now lost three finals: in 2023 and 2024 against Alcaraz, and in 2026 against Sinner. And it was on Sunday when he came closest to the title.
The Russian held a 4–0 lead in the second-set tie-break that could have changed everything. But Sinner won the next seven points to seal the title. “When I saw myself down 4–0, I told myself I had to keep believing. I didn’t lose confidence and realised I had to go for the points. I thought I had to try and close it out. I’m very happy,” Sinner said. Words from Mr Hard Court.
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