The fourth-ranked player in the world, Daniil Medvedev, will meet the Dane Holger Rune in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Open tennis competition. The game is slated to begin at 2:00 a.m. Central European Time on Friday, March 14.
After having a great start to the new season, Medvedev advanced to the Australian Open final where he lost to Sinner in the end after leading 2-0 in sets.
Daniil then played exclusively in Dubai, where he won the semifinal match against Hugo Humbert. Medvedev faced Grigor Dimitrov, Sebastian Korda, and Caballos Baena at Indian Wells.
For the 20-year-old Dane, the beginning of the current season was not the most assured. Rune had trouble in Australia and was eliminated in the second round. He had a respectable run in Acapulco before Casper Ruud stopped him short of the championship.
The world’s seventh-ranked player has only played two matches in the current Masters event. Due to Raonic’s retirement in the second round, Rune was unable to play against him and instead overcame Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti.
Medvedev only suffered two setbacks in 2024.
Rune’s record this year was one win every three matches prior to the Indian Wells tournament.
The two players have played twice on clay courts. While Medvedev rejoiced after his triumph in the Rome final, Rune emerged victorious in Monte Carlo.
At Indian Wells, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune finally shook hands and made up.
During their quarterfinal match at Indian Wells on Thursday night, Daniil Medvedev shared with Holger Rune that he was watching him closely. A fierce battle at the net, which Rune won, gave Medvedev a brief lead as they won the match in straight sets in California.
After winning the opening set 7–5, Medvedev was already one up and on his way home when the confrontation occurred. In the second set, Rune, fighting for his life in Indian Wells, came out swinging and sent Medvedev to the net with a drop shot.
The two players on opposite side of the court were only a few feet apart after the Russian hit a drop shot of his own in response. Rune then adopted a merciless strategy, aiming his bullet directly at Medvedev’s body.
Though tamely, he nonetheless managed to shoot it back, allowing Rune to score the game-winning shot. After barely evading a painful blow, Medvedev didn’t seem to be satisfied with the Dane’s quick hand of apologies.
As Rune made his way back to the baseline, the world number four didn’t take his eyes off him. He then menacingly waited with two hands on the net for the young player to turn and face him.
When he did, Medvedev put two fingers to his eyes and gestured to Rune, seemingly warning him that he would be closely monitoring his behavior for the remainder of the game.
Rune was forced to wait before serving for the subsequent point, which energised the crowd. After finding it amusing at first, the 20-year-old went over to the umpire and questioned why Medvedev hadn’t received a warning for mocking another player.
