Indian Wells belongs to Jannik Sinner now. His first BNP Paribas Open title, claimed with a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) defeat of Daniil Medvedev, came at the end of the most dominant two-week campaign the tournament has seen in recent years. No sets dropped, no break points conceded in the final — the numbers tell the story of a champion in total command.
Sinner had entered the tournament knowing that Indian Wells represented the last major hard-court challenge on his list. The Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals, and five other Masters 1000 titles were already his, but this particular event had always evaded him. The sense of purpose he brought to his campaign was evident from the first match.
Medvedev was the worthy final chapter in that story, providing genuine opposition in a final that went to tiebreaks in both sets. The Russian’s 4-0 lead in the second tiebreak made for the most dramatic passage of Sinner’s two weeks, but the champion’s seven-point response was emphatic.
The world number one’s ability to produce his finest tennis in the most pressurised situations is what separates him from his competitors. That quality was on full display in California, and it was the quality that ultimately made the difference against a dangerous and in-form Medvedev.
Women’s world number one Sabalenka added to a tremendous day of tennis with her 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory over Rybakina. The match-point save, the engagement announcement, the new puppy — Sabalenka’s week in California was the stuff of sporting fairy tales.