Daniil Medvedev has reached the Indian Wells final for the first time but needed eight match points to secure victory over Frances Tiafoe.<\/span><\/p>\n Medvedev, 27, held off a late Tiafoe surge to beat the American 7-5 7-6 (7-4) for his 19th successive win.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Russian fifth seed arrived at Indian Wells in fine form having won back-to-back ATP titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.<\/span><\/p>\n He will face top seed Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.<\/span><\/p>\n Playing in his first semi-final in the California desert, it took until the 11th game of the first set for Medvedev to get the vital break of serve despite relentless play from the baseline.<\/span><\/p>\n It looked as though the second set would be an easier affair when Medvedev broke in the opening game, but after a spirited Tiafoe saved three match points, he was twice broken while serving for the match.<\/span><\/p>\n World number 16 Tiafoe battled back from 5-1 down in the tie-break to 5-4, but from there Medvedev scrambled over the line, serving out the win with an ace.<\/span><\/p>\n “It was crazy at the end,” said the former world number one. “I got super tight.<\/span><\/p>\n “The ace was a relief. I’m just really happy that I managed not to lose this match.”<\/span><\/p>\n Victory in the final would see Medvedev become the first man since Andy Murray in 2016 to win four titles in five weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier, Wimbledon champion <\/span>Elena Rybakina defeated world number one Iga Swiatek<\/span><\/a> in straight sets to reach the women’s final, where she will play Aryna Sabalenka in a repeat of the Australian Open final.<\/span><\/p>\n
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