Indian Wells
Medvedev marches past Draper, reaches Indian Wells SFs
Two-time finalist subsequent faces Alcaraz or Norrie
March 13, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev is one step nearer to his first Indian Wells title.
By ATP Staff
Daniil Medvedev cruised past defending champion Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5 on Thursday on the BNP Paribas Open, the place the eleventh seed is into the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive yr.
In pursuit of his first Indian Wells trophy, Medvedev is on an eight-match successful streak, having arrived in California following a title run in Dubai. The 30-year-old has gained 16 units in a row since falling to rival Stefanos Tsitsipas on the ATP 500 occasion in Rotterdam.
“The first set was unreal, I couldn’t miss a ball,” Medvedev mentioned in his on-court interview. “It was an unbelievable level. Second set, he tried to give everything he had, and he had an opportunity. I had one at 4-all, I should’ve done much better, but it happens. In general, I’m super happy with the way I’m playing now and I’m looking forward.”
Foot on the throttle 🏎️
A robust efficiency secures @DaniilMedwed a last 4 spot! @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/sKkr2V6ShP
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 13, 2026
Medvedev raced via the opening set in simply 24 minutes as Draper appeared bodily spent, the Briton nonetheless feeling the results of his thrilling two-hour, 35-minute win towards five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.
With Medvedev’s trademark courtroom protection on full show, the 23-time tour-level titlist struck his flat backhand with specific precision, blasting the ball into Draper’s forehand nook. Draper held his lone break level whereas main at 3-2 within the second set, solely to see his likelihood erased by a Medvedev ace. The former No. 1 then fired two extra aces to shut that service recreation in model.
Medvedev earned an important break at 5-5 within the second set, a recreation by which Draper was referred to as for hindrance through the second level. After video evaluate, chair umpire Aurelie Tourte awarded Medvedev the purpose.
To attain the ultimate, Medvedev might want to defeat a former champion: two-time titlist Carlos Alcaraz or Cameron Norrie, who gained the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in 2021. Should Medvedev advance to the championship match, he’ll return to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the primary time since July.
Medvedev leads the ATP Tour this season with 17 wins. He is the fourth man to succeed in the Indian Wells semi-finals in 4 consecutive years, alongside Rafael Nadal (2006-13), Djokovic (2011-16) and Alcaraz (2022-25).
