Preview ATP Indian Wells Semifinal: Holger Rune seeks revenge as Daniil Medvedev eyes third straight final

The Indian Wells semifinals will feature a fascinating clash between Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune for the second consecutive year. Top-half favourites Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud fell early, opening the door for two heavyweights who know what it’s like to battle for Masters 1000 titles.

Both have a golden opportunity to reach a Masters 1000 final after more than a year. Medvedev leads the head-to-head 2-1, including a win at Indian Wells 2024. Both players arrive confident, promising a close battle for the first spot in the final.

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Rune seeks first Masters final since 2023

The 12th seed secured a hard-fought quarterfinal win over Tallon Griekspoor, showing resilience to turn the match around against the tournament’s biggest surprise, who had eliminated top seed Zverev. While Rune’s consistency has dipped, his Masters 1000 performances remain solid, reaching three semifinals in his last four appearances.

He now seeks a place in the final against a familiar foe. At just 21, Rune has already built experience at this level, boasting a title at the 2022 Paris Masters and finals at the 2023 Monte-Carlo and Italian Open. It was in Rome where he last faced Medvedev, with the Russian claiming his first clay-court title.

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Rune aims for his first final since the 2023 Italian Open and is brimming with confidence in what has been his best tournament of the season so far. His talent and ability to compete with the world’s best are undeniable, but he’ll need mental fortitude to overcome an inspired Medvedev. Rune has shown his fighting spirit, coming from behind twice against Humbert and Griekspoor.

Rune’s road to the semifinals:

• Round of 64: Corentin Moutet (No. 79) – 6-2, 6-4

• Round of 32: Ugo Humbert (No. 19) – 7-5, 4-6, 5-7

• Round of 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 9) – 6-4, 6-4

• Quarterfinals: Tallon Griekspoor (No. 43) – 7-5, 0-6, 3-6

Medvedev’s unfinished business at Indian Wells

Daniil Medvedev battled through an epic quarterfinal against rising star Arthur Fils. Medvedev had already suffered losses to some of the tour’s younger talents, and at times, it seemed Fils might add his name to that list. However, the Russian edged a dramatic tiebreak to prevail 6-4, 2-6, 7-6[9-7].

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Daniil Medvedev on emotional win over Fils: “I was surprised… I couldn't control it”

Medvedev returns to the Indian Wells semifinals, a tournament that still eludes him. He reached the final in 2023 and 2024, losing both to Carlos Alcaraz, making Indian Wells the only hard-court Masters 1000 missing from his collection. In the past 52 weeks, Medvedev has fallen in four semifinals, reaching only one final — right here at Indian Wells.

This is a golden chance for Medvedev, and he’ll enter the match as the favourite. His confidence should be boosted after the win over Fils, and he holds the upper hand in his rivalry with Rune, leading their head-to-head 2-1.

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Medvedev’s road to the semifinals

• Round of 64: Yunchaokete Bu (No. 71) – 6-2, 6-2

• Round of 32: Alex Michelsen (No. 32) – 2-0, w/o

• Round of 16: Tommy Paul (No. 11) – 6-4, 6-0

• Quarterfinals: Arthur Fils (No. 21) – 6-4, 2-6, 7-6[9-7]

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