Daniil Medvedev Draws the Ultimate Comparison Between Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and the Big 3
Daniil Medvedev lost the Indian Wells final against Jannik Sinner.
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Daniil Medvedev Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Big 3 (via Tennis World)
There are moments in sport that remind the fans why they watch. Down 0-4 in the second-set tiebreak, tournament on the line, crowd buzzing, and Jannik Sinner doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t tighten up. He just plays tennis. Better tennis than anyone else on the court, and arguably better than anyone else on the planet right now.
On March 15, 2026, Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) to claim his first Indian Wells title and his sixth ATP Masters 1000 crown. It wasn’t pretty every second of the way, but it didn’t have to be. This is what elite looks like. After losing the final, Medvedev was full of praise for the Italian and also gave a detailed explanation of how Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz match up against the ‘Big 3’ era.
They’re all very tough opponents. Unfortunately, I hadn’t played against Roger yet when I established myself in the top ten. I was just starting to break through, and I think he would be a very difficult opponent for me. In a way, we’ll never know, but I lost all three matches I played against him. So they’re all different, they’re all different players, and Jannik is different from Carlos. They’re all different. So, of course, the tactics are a little different.
Daniil Medvedev said in his post-match press conference (H/T: Punto de Break)
Credit where credit is due: Medvedev was exceptional all week. He ended Alcaraz’s remarkable 16-match winning streak in the semifinals, a result that sent shockwaves through the draw. Coming into the final, he had every reason to believe this was finally his Indian Wells moment, having lost finals here to the Spaniard in both 2023 and 2024.
Playing against Jannik is a little different than playing against Carlos. And, of course, Rafa is completely different because he’s left-handed and has that crazy spin on his shot. They’re all very tough opponents. That’s why they all have so many Grand Slams; Jannik and Carlos a little less at the moment, but barring anything extraordinary, they’re going to have many. How many, we don’t know. They’re a very tough challenge because they demand the best from you. And probably, if we look at my career, well, I’m worse than them, but I do my best to challenge them when I have the chance. Sometimes it works, and that’s what I’m going to try to keep doing.
Daniil Medvedev added
But Sinner had other plans. That’s been the consistent story when these two meet at the biggest events, as the last time Medvedev excelled over Sinner was in the Wimbledon 2024 quarterfinals.
The Sinner vs. Alcaraz Race Is Getting Serious
Here’s where things get really interesting. Carlos Alcaraz currently leads the so-called “Big Titles” race with 15. Sinner now sits at 12. The gap is closing, and both players have already claimed one major title each this season.
Alcaraz is still ahead. But Sinner is not slowing down. He hasn’t dropped a set all week at Indian Wells, and he’s now staring down the Miami Open with a chance to complete the coveted “Sunshine Double” — Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.
If he pulls that off, the conversation around who is truly the best player in the world is going to get very loud, very fast. Sinner has completed the hard court trophy cabinet, and Alcaraz has done the same on clay. Now, it’s all about winning all the titles, something that only Novak Djokovic has done before.
Jannik Sinner Delivers When It Matters Most
Tennis fans can talk about rankings, statistics, and head-to-head records all they want, but what truly defines great players is how they perform when the pressure is at its highest. Jannik Sinner gave that answer in crystal-clear terms on Sunday afternoon in the California desert.
The first set was a tight, grinding affair. Medvedev, riding a nine-match winning streak heading into the final, pushed Sinner deep into a tiebreak. The Russian led, got tight to the finish line, and then watched Sinner crack a forehand winner at the critical moment and serve his way to the set.
The second set was a different kind of drama. Medvedev jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak. At that point, most opponents fold. Sinner won six of the next seven points. With six Masters 1000 titles on hard courts, Sinner has now joined Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only players in history to win all six ATP hardcourt Masters 1000 events.
Add four Grand Slam titles and two ATP Finals trophies to that résumé, and what the fans are looking at is one of the most efficient title-collecting machines the sport has ever seen. Sinner wins a “Big Title” roughly once every 5.5 tournaments he enters, which is third among active players, behind only Djokovic and Alcaraz.
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