Daniil Medvedev will not compete in his third consecutive Indian Wells final! The Russian faced Holger Rune in the semi-final and experienced a 7-5, 6-4 loss in an hour and 39 minutes. Thus, Holger reached his fourth Masters 1000 final at 21.
The Dane entered Indian Wells with a mediocre 6-6 score after a couple of setbacks. However, the young gun has played well in the desert to book a place in the title clash. A year ago, Medvedev defeated Rune 7-5, 6-4 in the Indian Wells quarter-final.
The younger player responded on Saturday, mirroring that scoreboard and remaining on the title course.
🔥 INCREDIBLE from Holger Rune!
💥 Gets revenge over Daniil Medvedev and reaches a FOURTH Masters 1000 final!
Clay X2 ✅
Indoor hard ✅
Outdoor hard ✅pic.twitter.com/4mE3XSBGLA— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) March 15, 2025
Rune took 14 points more than Medvedev and performed well on serve and return. The Dane outplayed the Russian behind the first and second serve. The 21-year-old faced two break points and got broken once. Daniil gave away 40% of the points in his games.
He played against four break points and lost serve three times, ending his campaign in the last four. Holger landed 20 winners and 28 unforced errors. Daniil stayed on 15 direct points and added 27 mistakes to his tally. Rune had the upper hand in service winners and from the baseline.
Daniil Medvedev & Holger Rune, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
They served well in the opening four games of the first set. The Russian missed a forehand in the fifth game, offering his rival break points and landing a backhand wide to drop serve and fall behind. The two-time finalist kept his composure and broke back in game six after cracking a backhand down the line return winner.
Rune squandered multiple game points at 3-4 and faced a break point after Medvedev’s forehand down the line winner. The Dane saved it with a smash winner and held for 4-4. Daniil denied a break point in the ninth game after an entertaining point and a lucky net cord forehand winner.
Holger Rune, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Holger left that chance behind and fired a forehand winner in game ten for 5-5. The younger player made a push on the return in game 11 and welcomed the rival’s volley mistake to secure a break and move 6-5 in front.
Rune served for the opener in game 12. He closed it after the rival’s backhand error, holding at 30 and wrapping up the opener 7-5 in 61 minutes. The second set was faster and more fluid. Holger dropped four points in five service games and kept the pressure on the other side.
Daniil Medvedev, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The 21-year-old made a push on the return at 1-1, landing a forehand winner and generating three break points. Daniil netted a routine backhand on the first, dropping serve at love and falling a set and a break behind. Rune cemented the lead with a hold at love in game four after a powerful serve.
The Dane brought the sixth game home with an unreturned serve, and the Russian mirrored that in the next one to remain within one break deficit. Holger produced a hold at love in game eight with a service winner, moving closer to the finish line.
Holger Rune, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The better-ranked player held at love in game nine. He reduced the gap to 5-4 and wished for one last chance on the return in the next one after moving 30-0 up. Instead, Rune painted two winners and clinched a 38-shot exchange for a match point.
The Dane converted it with a forehand winner, moving into his fourth Masters 1000 final and the first since Rome two years ago.
Tennis World USA