Daniil Medvedev has arrived in Indian Wells and hopes to turn his season around, which started with results quite similar to 2024. The Russian ace has not yet overcome the crisis that has haunted him for about twelve months and is aware that it will take a long time to recover all his certainties, which have probably been lost after the painful defeat against Jannik Sinner in the final of the 2024 Australian Open.
The champion from Moscow was playing really brilliant tennis in that match and was ahead by two sets, before the Italian ace reacted and prevailed in the fifth set as had already happened in the 2022 final (when it was Rafael Nadal who had come back Daniil at Melbourne Park).
Although he did not achieve prestigious results even in the first two months of 2025 and was eliminated in the second round at the AO, the 2021 US Open champion has shown some encouraging signs in Doha and Dubai in recent weeks.
The former world No.1 reached the quarterfinals in both ATP 500s, stopping respectively against Felix Auger-Aliassime (in Qatar) and against Tallon Griekspoor (in the United Arab Emirates).
Medvedev wants to shine in California
Medvedev is one of the most anticipated protagonists of the ‘BNP Paribas Open’ in Indian Wells, considering that he reached the final in both 2023 and 2024 (losing to Spaniard Carlitos Alcaraz in both cases).
During his pre-tournament press conference, Daniil discussed his ‘relationship’ with this tournament over the years: “The first time I played this tournament it took me a long time to get to the venue and I had mononucleosis, which is why I thought I hated Indian Wells.
Now I like it a lot and I discovered many things to do during the tournament. The first two years I stayed in a hotel, while now we are in one thing together with the other members of my team.
In the evening we play pool and we really like to cook all together. I love coming here.”
Tennis World USA