After second-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner polished off No. 4 Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-2, 6-4, in the first semifinal in the California desert, most observers likely penciled in another Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz final of an ATP 1000 event.

But Danill Medvedev had other ideas.

The resurgent 11th-seeded Russian stunned the Spaniard, 6-3, 7-6 (3) and will face Sinner for the championship on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Alcaraz was 12-0 in 2026 and had won 16 consecutive matches, capturing the Australian Open and the ATP 500 event in Doha, Qatar. But Medvedev broke on his only two opportunities and saved four of five of Alcaraz’s break chances to snap a four-match losing streak to the World No. 1.

Medvedev, who has never won the title at Indian Wells, rallied from 30-0 down to break Alcaraz in the fourth game of the match and only lost three more points on his serve to take the first set.

Alcaraz had two set points in the 10th game of the second set, but the crafty 30-year-old held him off and the set reached a tiebreaker. Medvedev raced to a 6-1 lead and won the match on his next service opportunity.

“Playing someone like Carlos, you play many times, you lose many times,” Medvedev said. “He’s an amazing player with amazing shots, defense, attack, return, everything. So, you need to be at your best.”

After playing Zverev on level terms for the first four games, Sinner ran off the final four games of the first set and was back in his chair in only 32 minutes.

The second set was more competitive and Zverev had one chance to move ahead 4-2. But Sinner erased the one break point chance, broke the German in a five-point seventh game and coasted to and posted his sixth consecutive win over Zrerev.

“Yes … it means a lot to me,” Sinner said about reaching his first final at Indian Wells. “Third time that I play in semifinals, so I’m very happy to be for the first time in the final. Now we see what’s coming tomorrow.”

As many elite players do, Sinner took advantage of Zrerev’s second serve, winning 14 of 22 points. He recorded 16 winners and only six errors in the 83-minute match.

Sinner was questioned about facing Medvedev if the upset did take place.

“Yeah, you know, he’s back to very, very high level,” said Sinner. “Very big serve, I feel like. You know, he’s returning very well. Very, very deep.

“And I think Daniil has found again a good, good balance on court, winning a title in Dubai, coming here, making again great results. But also last time we played has been quite a while now.”

The two have met 15 times since 2020, but not since the Nitto ATP Finals in 2024. Sinner leads the series 8-7, winning eight of the last nine meetings after Medvedev captured the first six. They have faced off in five finals, with Sinner holding a 3-2 edge, including a five-set victory in the 2024 Australian Open.

Medvedev expressed confidence in procuring his third ATP title of the season and first at Indian Wells.

“If I manage to maintain the level I had throughout the tournament and maybe even raise it, I will have my chances,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Simon Holmstrom scored consecutive goals late in the first period to cap a three-goal flurry Saturday night by the New York Islanders, who ensured they would maintain their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race by edging the Calgary Flames 3-2 in Elmont, N.Y.

Casey Cizikas opened the scoring for the Islanders, who entered the day tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division and tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the top wild-card spot.

David Rittich made 30 saves as New York improved to 6-3-0 since returning from the Olympic break.

Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored in the third for the Flames, who have lost seven of 10 (3-6-1) since resuming play following the Olympics. Dustin Wolf stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief of Devin Cooley, who gave up the three first-period goals on 10 shots.

A gritty effort by Cizikas led to his goal with 9:54 left in the first. After checking Olli Maatta into the back boards, Cizikas teamed up with Kyle MacLean to steal the puck from Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl. Cizikas then approached the right post and poked the puck into the far corner of the net with his third shot.

Holmstrom scored twice exactly three minutes apart later in the period.

Holmstrom, who changed his number from 10 to 92 after Brayden Schenn was acquired from the St. Louis Blues on March 6, teamed up with Schenn to finish off a 2-on-1. With Bahl between them, Schenn fed Holmstrom, who sent a shot over Cooley’s stick with 3:25 left.

The Islanders’ Calum Ritchie was whistled for tripping with 1:56 left, but Yegor Sharangovich whiffed on a shot and Jean-Gabriel Pageau picked up the puck and dished to a streaking Holmstrom, who bore in on Cooley and scored to cap his second multi-goal game of the season and the sixth of his career.

The Flames began their comeback bid 2:17 into the third, when Backlund, stationed in the slot, redirected Maatta’s shot. Calgary pulled within a goal following a fortuitous line change 6:11 later, when Coleman got a step on Ritchie and beat Rittich stick side.

–Field Level Media

Hany Mukhtar scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time Saturday night and visiting Nashville SC stayed unbeaten with a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew.

The match appeared destined for a scoreless draw without much in the way of true high-danger chances until Mukhtar received expert service from Cristian Espinosa. After taking a pass in the box from Andy Najar, Espinosa spun defender Rudy Camacho around twice and then fed Mukhtar near the goal mouth, where he poked the ball past Patrick Schulte.

The goal enabled Nashville (3-0-1, 10 points) to remain unbeaten despite Columbus (0-2-2, 2 points) controlling the ball most of the night. The Crew possessed the ball for 55.3% of the fixture and made 171 more passes than their visitors.

But they couldn’t convert that into goals and remained winless through four matches under first-year coach Henrik Rydstrom. Meanwhile, Nashville goalie Brian Schwake (two saves) recorded his second clean sheet — both on the road.

Prior to Mukhtar’s marker, neither team generated a scoring opportunity of better than 9%. Each finished the match with eight shots, while Nashville had a 4-2 advantage in shots on frame.

Nashville came into the match boasting a top 10 offense and defense, scoring seven times in its first three fixtures while conceding just twice. Meanwhile, Columbus found its defensive shape last week but couldn’t find the back of the net in a scoreless draw with Chicago.

This one trended more toward that match and less towards the wide-open affairs the Crew played in the first two matches. Neither team generated a chance with a goal expectancy of even 10% in a scoreless first 45 minutes.

Columbus came the closest to scoring in the third minute of stoppage time but Max Arfsten’s long-range try from outside the box struck the crossbar and bounced away.

Jack Maher logged Nashville’s only first-half shot on net in the 39th minute on a header but Schulte (three saves) was able to parry it away.

–Field Level Media