BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, CA, 2026 - ATP Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Poor shot selection by Medvedev hitting the ball stupidly back to Sinner often on big points. 1 or 2 less of those dense moments and the match was his. He always throws in these stupid pusher shots like a clown but I'm very pleased with his level all the same. The match was very winnable though so it's a pity. His backhand is something else and forehand was absolutely brilliant too against Alcaraz and Sinner. Hopefully he keeps this level up.

Meddy played well though I have to disagree with you I dont think Meddy would have beaten Sinner, Sinner didnt face any BPs and his serve was on 'song' until he served first in the 2nd set TB, also Sinner went for his shots more in the 2nd set TB, which paid off in the end, Meddy felt the pressure and didnt play well on the Big Points
Still Meddy is back in the Top Ten, and hopefully he can stay there, his form in Dubai and IW has been impressive and the courts in Miami suit his game. In regards to Meddy playing Alcaraz, the one thing that stood out to me was Alcaraz could not 'hit through Meddy' something Alcaraz isnt used to.

 

[Moxie]

Meddy played well though I have to disagree with you I dont think Meddy would have beaten Sinner, Sinner didnt face any BPs and his serve was on 'song' until he served first in the 2nd set TB, also Sinner went for his shots more in the 2nd set TB, which paid off in the end, Meddy felt the pressure and didnt play well on the Big Points
Still Meddy is back in the Top Ten, and hopefully he can stay there, his form in Dubai and IW has been impressive and the courts in Miami suit his game. In regards to Meddy playing Alcaraz, the one thing that stood out to me was Alcaraz could not 'hit through Meddy' something Alcaraz isnt used to.

This is why I don't think Meddy is all the way back yet, but he's said some interesting things this week, and played some good tennis. He said that when he got together with his new team, they said that, for starters, he wasn't fit enough to play the game he wants to, which makes perfect sense. He likes a cat and mouse game. He agreed with that, and they worked on his fitness. He also said that he's not as defensive as people say he is. When he's confident, he feels himself to be rather aggressive. He got on the front foot with Alcaraz, and stayed there. With Sinner, he retreated back again. I think he could beat him with the heat. But he got back on his back foot, too, and retreated to a place of less confidence/more passivity. Not taking away from Sinner, just talking about Medvedev and his progress. I think all of that makes sense.

He also said that he's playing good tennis, but he has been capable of playing good tennis, sometimes in the past couple of years. He said the question is doing it consistently, and he's right. So that's what he'll be looking to do. But he did say that 2 tournaments isn't "consistency" yet. Anyway, his head seems to be in a better place than it has been for a long time.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is why I don't think Meddy is all the way back yet, but he's said some interesting things this week, and played some good tennis. He said that when he got together with his new team, they said that, for starters, he wasn't fit enough to play the game he wants to, which makes perfect sense. He likes a cat and mouse game. He agreed with that, and they worked on his fitness. He also said that he's not as defensive as people say he is. When he's confident, he feels himself to be rather aggressive. He got on the front foot with Alcaraz, and stayed there. With Sinner, he retreated back again. I think he could beat him with the heat. But he got back on his back foot, too, and retreated to a place of less confidence/more passivity. Not taking away from Sinner, just talking about Medvedev and his progress. I think all of that makes sense.

He also said that he's playing good tennis, but he has been capable of playing good tennis, sometimes in the past couple of years. He said the question is doing it consistently, and he's right. So that's what he'll be looking to do. But he did say that 2 tournaments isn't "consistency" yet. Anyway, his head seems to be in a better place than it has been for a long time.

I agree with your thoughts about 'consistency' Meddy hasnt shown that in awhile, agree I dont think he is all the way back as yet, , though he has shown promising signs winning Dubai and making the final in IW. Actually he appears to be enjoying his tennis of late, good sign, winning does breed confidence.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Moxie
If you are still around,
I feel Alcaraz is going to 'over play' the upcoming clay season
He needs to drop at least one clay tournament, Masters at Monte Carlo it is not a 'mandatory tournament'
I know he is young and probably thinks he can play the whole clay season intact, remember when we used to worry when Rafa played every clay tournament, to this day I do not know how he competed and won RG 2022, he had to have pain killing injections every match, then was on crutches after before having extreme treatment on his foot.

 

[Moxie]

Moxie
If you are still around,
I feel Alcaraz is going to 'over play' the upcoming clay season
He needs to drop at least one clay tournament, Masters at Monte Carlo it is not a 'mandatory tournament'
I know he is young and probably thinks he can play the whole clay season intact, remember when we used to worry when Rafa played every clay tournament, to this day I do not know how he competed and won RG 2022, he had to have pain killing injections every match, then was on crutches after before having extreme treatment on his foot.

I've heard a lot of similar talk on TC re: same. He should be careful. His problem is similar, but not quite the same as Rafa's, especially regarding Barcelona. Monte Carlo is beautiful and hard to resist, including re: points. And Barcelona is such a great tournament. For Rafa, it was his closest to a home tournament, being in the Catalan language group, which is not the same for Alcaraz. He's defending MC. I think he should be planning to drop Barcelona. He also has a better relationship in terms of history with Madrid. The place where he broke out. I have to expect that he will see how he fares and drop something, but, IMO, it probably should be Barcelona.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Other than Margaret, I am disappointed that nobody has talked about Sinner completing the HC set at age 24.5 years old. He is the youngest to do it by far but nobody seems to care about it.

But if this was Alcaraz, you guys will talk about it everyday.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Other than Margaret, I am disappointed that nobody has talked about Sinner completing the HC set at age 24.5 years old. He is the youngest to do it by far but nobody seems to care about it.

But if this was Alcaraz, you guys will talk about it everyday.

Hi Rafanoy good to see you posting,
Yes it is a wonderful accomplishment for Sinner, no player before Sinner, has achieved it before the age of 30, Federer was aged 30 when he achieved it at Paris, Djokovic was age 31, he achieved it in Cincinnati, I am extremely proud of him.You have been missed at TF btw, I would not mind another Sinner fan alongside me

 

[Moxie]

Other than Margaret, I am disappointed that nobody has talked about Sinner completing the HC set at age 24.5 years old. He is the youngest to do it by far but nobody seems to care about it.

But if this was Alcaraz, you guys will talk about it everyday.

Hey, rafanoy! Well, I gave her post a like. What else is there to say? TBH, I never realized this was a "thing," let alone youngest ever to do it? I assume that means HC Majors and HC MS 1000s? Does it include YEC? Who else has even done it, besides Roger and Novak? What's your complaint...that people like Alcaraz more than Sinner? Oh, well.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Federer not winning Paris until 30 is huge surprise to me. An indoor hard court tournament is his bread and butter. It's almost like Basel. I would have thought he would have won it least once in his 2004-07 peak. Unless he didn't play there in those years.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Federer not winning Paris until 30 is huge surprise to me. An indoor hard court tournament is his bread and butter. It's almost like Basel. I would have thought he would have won it least once in his 2004-07 peak. Unless he didn't play there in those years.

He skipped some of the years to focus on YEC.

In a weird way too, Djokovic didn’t win his 1st Cincy title when he was 31 years old.

That’s why Sinner completing the HC set at 24.5 is remarkable in my opinion. But because he is only 24 and not 22 years old, he is not considered young, I guess.

 

[Fiero425]

Hey, rafanoy! Well, I gave her post a like. What else is there to say? TBH, I never realized this was a "thing," let alone youngest ever to do it? I assume that means HC Majors and HC MS 1000s? Does it include YEC? Who else has even done it, besides Roger and Novak? What's your complaint...that people like Alcaraz more than Sinner? Oh, well.

For some reason, you have this newer generation trying to push The Big 3 off the stage, constantly comparing Sinner & Alcaraz to them & their accomplishments! IMO it's kind of pathetic as the Big 3 did their thing for over 20 yrs., while these new bloods are still staggeringly behind them in all the major records! Due to the physical & mental toll it takes, I don't think either will even come close to breaking any of the major records out there! Being "the youngest" is their only talking pt.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

For some reason, you have this newer generation trying to push The Big 3 off the stage, constantly comparing Sinner & Alcaraz to them & their accomplishments! IMO it's kind of pathetic as the Big 3 did their thing for over 20 yrs., while these new bloods are still staggeringly behind them in all the major records! Due to the physical & mental toll it takes, I don't think either will even come close to breaking any of the major records out there! Being "the youngest" is their only talking pt.

Moxie
I am biting my tongue to reply to 'this post' typical of that poster!
I await your reply?
BTW it does include the YEC with Sinner being the youngest at age 24, to win all the major HC tournaments
One young record that 'stands alone' is Alcaraz completing his career slam at the AO in 2026, at age 22rs and 272 days young? apparently that incredible feat slippped his mind ?! I was lucky to witness that match live at the AO this year.
It is not all about the "Holy Trinity" btw!, as far as I am concerned we as tennis fans should be acknowledging these younger tennis players and not to live in the past, these players are the future of tennis!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW
Another historic record for Sinner, most notably, he became " The First Player in History' to win 2 consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles without dropping a set, following his victory in the 2025 Paris Masters without losing a set!

 

[Moxie]

BTW
Another historic record for Sinner, most notably, he became " The First Player in History' to win 2 consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles without dropping a set, following his victory in the 2025 Paris Masters without losing a set!

Which actually sounds like a record. I'm just wondering when this HC Box Set became thing? I think just Sunday, when TV invented it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Which actually sounds like a record. I'm just wondering when this HC Box Set became thing? I think just Sunday, when TV invented it.

The concept of wining all major HC tournaments, defined as AO, USO, ATP finals,and major HC Masters events became established within the ATP framework after the ATP was founded in 1990, which introduced the top -level 'Championship Series' ( later ATP Masters 1000)

 

[Moxie]

The concept of wining all major HC tournaments, defined as AO, USO, ATP finals,and major HC Masters events became established within the ATP framework after the ATP was founded in 1990, which introduced the top -level 'Championship Series' ( later ATP Masters 1000)

I simply don't believe that's true First of all, only Roger, Novak and now Sinner have done it. It's not a "named goal" like, say, a calendar year Grand Slam, or even a Channel Slam. Which is not to say it's not an admirable achievement, but let's not pretend that the concept wasn't just invented. Even when Novak won all of the 9 MS 1000s, they invented the term "boxed set" for it. Or, they borrowed it from the real "boxed set," which is winning a title in each of singles, doubles and mixed at each of the 4 Majors. That one you can google. HC Boxed Set yields nothing. There's no Clay Boxed Set or Grass Boxed Set. It's a way for tennis commentators to speak of an accomplishment, but it's not what anyone would call a separate goal to play for.

I'm not trying to be pissy about it, but @rafanoy1992 posted to chastise us for not exclaiming over it. I'm just saying, no one knew we were supposed to.

 

[Fiero425]

I simply don't believe that's true First of all, only Roger, Novak and now Sinner have done it. It's not a "named goal" like, say, a calendar year Grand Slam, or even a Channel Slam. Which is not to say it's not an admirable achievement, but let's not pretend that the concept wasn't just invented. Even when Novak won all of the 9 MS 1000s, they invented the term "boxed set" for it. Or, they borrowed it from the real "boxed set," which is winning a title in each of singles, doubles and mixed at each of the 4 Majors. That one you can google. HC Boxed Set yields nothing. There's no Clay Boxed Set or Grass Boxed Set. It's a way for tennis commentators to speak of an accomplishment, but it's not what anyone would call a separate goal to play for.

I'm not trying to be pissy about it, but @rafanoy1992 posted to chastise us for not exclaiming over it. I'm just saying, no one knew we were supposed to.

IQ's raised on the fly! Thank U! Winning all Masters-1000's became "A Golden Masters!" They keep creating terms! Agassi begot "The Career GS!"

 

[Moxie]

For some reason, you have this newer generation trying to push The Big 3 off the stage, constantly comparing Sinner & Alcaraz to them & their accomplishments! IMO it's kind of pathetic as the Big 3 did their thing for over 20 yrs., while these new bloods are still staggeringly behind them in all the major records! Due to the physical & mental toll it takes, I don't think either will even come close to breaking any of the major records out there! Being "the youngest" is their only talking pt.

It's not Sinner and Alcaraz trying to push The Big 3 off the stage, it's the commentators. And why not celebrate the accomplishments of current players? It's their job to drum up interest in the sport, and there had been real fear about what would happen to interest in the men's game with Roger out, then Rafa out. It's also natural that they would compare accomplishments. That's what sports is all about. Naturally, "youngest" is what they've got, for now. Their careers are just starting, and less than half as long as those of the Big 3. Maybe they will or maybe they won't break other and more significant of the Big 3's records. That will take a long time to know. Someday, most of them will be broken, though, so prepare yourself.

 

[Murat B.]

Congrats to Sinner and everyone else on their big accomplishments . Having said that, I am getting tired of stat porn. Tennis is not as bad as basketball but it is catching up. Match wins, tournament wins, head to heads, slam counts and that is good enough for me. This started with (as far as I can remember) Roger's slam semi streak years back. As a Roger fan, I could not have cared less. He lost many of those slams. It is getting much worse now. We are on our way to " First guy ever to have eaten 6 pancakes at I Hop for breakfast, taken a 3 hour nap and won his first 5 service games while only drinking Red Bull during breaks "....Like, Jeez.

 

[Moxie]

IQ's raised on the fly! Thank U! Winning all Masters-1000's became "A Golden Masters!" They keep creating terms! Agassi begot "The Career GS!"

I don't remember any "Golden Masters." Boxed set. Golden Career Slam, yes, meaning add the Olympic Gold, which Novak, bless his heart, FINALLY got.