To understand why Jannik Sinner is world number one, look no further than the second-set tiebreak of the Indian Wells final. Trailing Daniil Medvedev 4-0 in a match that could have gone either way, he produced seven consecutive points to win the tiebreak and the championship 7-6(6), 7-6(4).
The recovery was emblematic of everything that makes Sinner the world’s best. His ability to raise his game in the most important moments is a quality that separates great champions from very good players, and at 24, he is demonstrating it consistently at the highest level.
Medvedev had earned his place in the final with excellent tennis throughout the tournament, culminating in a brilliant semi-final win over Sinner in a recent meeting. His game in the final was nearly good enough, and his 4-0 advantage in the second tiebreak showed how fine the margins are at the top of the sport.
For Sinner, the win completed a personal ambition — he had explicitly identified Indian Wells as the one significant hard-court title yet to be won. Mission accomplished, in style, and with a two-week campaign that included no dropped sets and no break points conceded in the final.
Sabalenka’s title in the women’s final provided the perfect bookend to Sinner’s achievement. She too demonstrated the qualities of a champion, coming from a set and a break down against Rybakina to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) after saving a match point in the final tiebreak.
