Indian Wells
Medvedev marches past Draper, reaches Indian Wells SFs
Two-time finalist next faces Alcaraz or Norrie
March 13, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev is one step closer to his first Indian Wells title.
By ATP Staff
Daniil Medvedev cruised past defending champion Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5 on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open, where the 11th seed is into the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year.
In pursuit of his first Indian Wells trophy, Medvedev is on an eight-match winning streak, having arrived in California following a title run in Dubai. The 30-year-old has won 16 sets in a row since falling to rival Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam.
“The first set was unreal, I couldn’t miss a ball,” Medvedev said 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 powerful performance secures @DaniilMedwed a final four spot! @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/sKkr2V6ShP
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 13, 2026
Medvedev raced through the opening set in just 24 minutes as Draper appeared physically spent, the Briton still feeling the effects of his thrilling two-hour, 35-minute win against five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.
With Medvedev’s trademark court coverage on full display, the 23-time tour-level titlist struck his flat backhand with particular precision, blasting the ball into Draper’s forehand corner. Draper held his lone break point while leading at 3-2 in the second set, only to see his chance erased by a Medvedev ace. The former No. 1 then fired two more aces to close that service game in style.
Medvedev earned a crucial break at 5-5 in the second set, a game in which Draper was called for hindrance during the second point. After video review, chair umpire Aurelie Tourte awarded Medvedev the point.
To reach the final, Medvedev will need to defeat a former champion: two-time titlist Carlos Alcaraz or Cameron Norrie, who won the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2021. Should Medvedev advance to the championship match, he will return to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since July.
Medvedev leads the ATP Tour this season with 17 wins. He is the fourth man to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals in four consecutive years, alongside Rafael Nadal (2006-13), Djokovic (2011-16) and Alcaraz (2022-25).
