Jannik Sinner had a masterplan, and at Indian Wells, he delivered it to perfection. The Italian world number one had identified the BNP Paribas Open as the last major hard-court title remaining on his list, and he executed his campaign without a dropped set before defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in the final.
The plan was evident from Sinner’s opening match — precise, focused tennis designed to conserve energy while accumulating wins without suffering damage from dropped sets or extended matches. He was clinical and efficient throughout, saving his best for the final.
Medvedev disrupted the plan’s smooth execution, pushing Sinner to two tiebreaks with aggressive, accurate tennis. The 4-0 lead he built in the second tiebreak was the plan’s closest brush with failure — but Sinner’s seven-point response showed the masterplan had a contingency for every scenario.
The recovery was delivered with such authority that it appeared effortless, though the quality required to produce seven consecutive points in a tiebreak against a world-class opponent is anything but. Sinner’s tennis in those moments was a reminder of why he is the world number one.
Sabalenka’s 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) title victory in the women’s final was the product of a different kind of plan — one built on determination to overcome the psychological barrier of losing four consecutive finals to Rybakina. She executed her plan brilliantly, saving a match point before claiming her first Indian Wells title.