Daniil Medvedev overcomes bleeding thumb to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and reach Indian Wells semis
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Updated 16/03/2023 at 07:06 GMT
It has not always been straightforward for Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells this week but he has reached the semi-finals and extended his winning streak to 18 matches. The former world No. 1 has complained about the "slow" courts and rolled his ankle, and in his victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina he cut his thumb after a fall. He next faces Frances Tiafoe, who beat Cameron Norrie.
Highlights: Medvedev's late surge sets up Zverev meeting at Indian Wells
Daniil Medvedev overcame another injury scare to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3 7-5 and reach the Indian Wells semi-finals.
Medvedev rolled his ankle in his last-16 win over Alexander Zverev but didn’t look troubled by that as he recorded his 18th straight victory.
He did, though, require a medical timeout in the second set when a fall behind the baseline left him with a bleeding cut on his thumb.
Davidovich Fokina had three chances to break after the incident, but Medvedev held firm to set up a meeting with Frances Tiafoe, who beat British No. 1 Cameron Norrie in straight sets.
"I absolutely cut it open," Medvedev said of his bloody thumb.
"It was like fully open. I never cut myself with a knife even like this because I don't cook much. They cleaned it now, have a small tape. Should be fine.
"The question is going to be whether I tape it in two days for the match or not. But that’s not a big problem because I managed to play well with the tape today. A lot of players tape their fingers and manage to play well so I’m going to be able to do it also.”
Medvedev’s thumb injury looked like it might aid Davidovich Fokina, who had already passed up three opportunities to break early in the second set.
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But after Medvedev received treatment, the 23rd seed again couldn’t take his chance in the eighth game when he got to 0-40 against the serve.
Medvedev, who has grumbled several times this week about the "slow" courts, held and then broke to love to secure his place in the last four.
“It’s very tough to have these streaks in tennis,” said the former world No. 1, who has won three titles this year.
“You always have an opponent on the other side who wants to beat you. Everyone wants to be in the semis of Masters, finals, winning the tournament. So it’s tough because anybody can beat you any moment.
“When you manage to win that many matches in a row, it’s just a pleasant feeling. Three titles. But right now, my mind is definitely 100% here in Indian Wells. I want to try to get these last two matches.
“The further you go, the tougher it is, the more confident your opponents are because if you play the semis or final, it means that you are feeling good, either with the courts or conditions, they earn your confidence, which is more the second one for me. But it’s the same for the other three players.
“I’m sure Frances is feeling great right now and playing great, and it’s going to be the same for the guys who win tomorrow. But I feel great, and hopefully, I can continue this way this season because it’s been a long time, I haven't felt this way.”
The other quarter-finals see world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz take on defending Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Jannik Sinner meet defending champion Taylor Fritz.
Alcaraz can replace Novak Djokovic as world No. 1 if he wins Indian Wells, but has a 0-3 record against Auger-Aliassime.
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