Jannik Sinner claimed his first title of the year with victory over Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells.
The four-time grand slam champion had had a slightly underwhelming start to the season by his stratospheric standards but he was peerless in the Californian desert, not dropping a set through the fortnight.
A tight, high-quality encounter against a resurgent Medvedev looked like it would head to a decider when the Russian went 4-0 up in the second-set tie-break but Sinner reeled off seven points in a row to clinch a 7-6 (6) 7-6 (4) victory.
His first title at the BNP Paribas Open means Sinner has completed the set of all the biggest titles on hard courts, winning the Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals and all six Masters 1000 events.
The 24-year-old told Sky Sports: “It has been a very, very tough tournament. In my mind I knew it was the only hard-court tournament of the big ones I hadn’t won so I’m very happy about how I handled it. Seeing Daniil playing again this level, it’s important for tennis.”
He is also the only player to win back-to-back titles at Masters level – the pinnacle of the ATP Tour – without dropping a set having done the same in Paris at the end of last season.
Medvedev was bidding to join Novak Djokovic by beating Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner at the same tournament, and he brought the same aggressive, precision tennis that had seen him stun the world number one in Saturday’s semi-finals.
But Sinner served superbly in scorching conditions, not facing a break point throughout the match, and managed to come out on top in the crunch moments.
“It was hot but it wasn’t humid, so it makes a difference,” Sinner said, who had arrived early in California to acclimatise to the weather.
“I’ve been here a week before the tournament started. Very similar conditions as it was today. We put in long days of practice. I felt very well prepared, so I wasn’t having issues with the weather and the heat, which is very positive for me.
“It’s all part of the process we’re trying to do and becoming the best possible athlete. We definitely do a lot of work in the gym to play at this level.”
The consolation for Medvedev, who was close to missing the tournament after he was caught up in the travel chaos in the Middle East, is that he will return to the top 10 on Monday.
Earlier, Aryna Sabalenka snapped her losing streak against Elena Rybakina in a thrilling women’s final.
The world number one beat Rybakina to win her maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open in 2023 but since then had lost all four finals against the Kazakh, including at the WTA Finals last season and in Melbourne in January.
Sabalenka said after winning her semi-final that she was “so done” with losing big finals, and she saved a match point in the deciding tie-break to come through 3-6 6-3 7-6 (6).
After celebrating on court with her fiance and new puppy, Sabalenka said in her on-court interview: “What a week – getting a puppy, getting engaged and winning a title. I will definitely remember it for the rest of my life.”
