Medvedev: ‘It’s Time To Build A New Streak’

After a lopsided defeat like the one Daniil Medvedev suffered Sunday in the BNP Paribas Open final, it can be hard to know whether to laugh or cry. For the fifth seed — who saw his 19-match win streak snapped by Carlos Alcaraz, 6-3, 6-2 in a first Indian Wells title match for both — it’s the former.

“I think this one I will get over pretty quickly,” he said in his post-match press conference, noting his positive mindset after winning three straight titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai. “I managed to make my best result in Indian Wells where before I couldn’t make it to the quarters, and already my second match was a three-setter.

“A lot of positives, for sure. I think this one, I will be forever disappointed that I didn’t win the final, but I can laugh already and whatever, I’m gonna try to win the next one or win this one next year. Looking forward already and, for sure, will not think too much about this one but will discuss it with my coach.”

Medvedev was well below his best, while Alcaraz was firing on all cylinders in the pair’s second ATP Head2Head meeting and first since Wimbledon 2021, when Medvedev cruised to a straight-sets win.

The biggest disappointment for the fifth seed, aside from falling short of a fifth ATP Masters 1000 title, was a missed opportunity to tie his career-long win streak of 20 matches. 

“Damn, one away from my record. That’s actually disappointing,” he said with a smile.

“This would be cool to try to beat it and maybe try to prolong it as long as possible. It’s great to have these streaks,” continued Medvedev, who was bidding to become the first man to win four titles in five weeks since Andy Murray in 2016.

“Really disappointed that it ended, but a lot of confidence from this streak. Because last year, that’s what I was missing, these streaks. I was doing sometimes finals, semis in Cincinnati, kind of playing good but not playing well enough in the semis. I managed to win 19 matches in a row. I’m proud of it, and now it’s time to try to build a new streak. There is no other way in tennis.”

At 27, Medvedev can be considered a veteran of the ATP Tour. As such, he can take heart from his experience on the other end of one-sided results in marquee matchups. He recalled his 6-4, 6-4 win against Novak Djokobvic in the Dubai final earlier this month, a match in which the Serbian could not summon his best level.

Further reflecting on Sunday’s final, Medvedev struggled to diagnose the problems with his game, but he had no issue accepting the result.

“Why didn’t I play my best? I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe it was his ball. Maybe it was the wind. It was pretty windy today, and for him it was easier to go through this wind, and that’s normal. That’s what’s easier to do for him.

“So I have no real reasons, and sometimes in tennis you don’t have them. Disappointed with the result, but the week was amazing. Because Indian Wells, to make final, I’m just super happy and proud… I see only good things, and looking forward to Miami, for sure.”