Danil Medvedev battled past Frances Tiafoe 7-5 7-6 (7-4) in 1 hour and 47 minutes to reach the first final of his career at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Medvedev has extended his winning streak to 19 consecutive matches this year. He won three consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai last February and is within one match from becoming the first player to win four titles in five weeks since Andy Murray in 2016.
Medvedev won 80% of his first serve points. The first four games went on serve before Tiafoe went down 0-40 on serve in the fifth game.
Medvedev hit his forehand pass in the 11th game at 5-5 30-40 to earn his only break of the opening set. The Russian player held serve to seal the first set.
Medvedev broke in the first game of the second set. He earned two chances to get the double break in the third game, but Tiafoe fought back to hold serve. Medvedev earned three match points at 5-3 on Tiafoe’s serve. Tiafoe saved them and broke back to draw level to 5-5. Medvedev broke back with a forehand to take a 6-5 lead, but he wasted four more match points on serve and Tiafoe earned another break to force a tie-break.
Tiafoe came back from 1-5 to 4-5 in the tie-break, but Medvedev converted his eighth match point with an ace to seal his spot in the final.
Medvedev has extended his head-to-head series against Tiafoe to 5-0.
“It was crazy at the end. I got super tight. I would say that after 6-5 40-0, I would say after 6-5 40-0 I think I got tight at deuce when I was like ‘Oh my God, that’s a lot of opportunities missed, this could not go out for me. I got really tight, but I still managed to continue playing good. The ace on match point was a relief. I am just happy that I managed not to lose this match”, said Medvedev.