Daniil Medvedev admitted that he “didn’t feel great” after he was awarded a controversial point during a crucial stage of his quarter-final win over Jack Draper at the Indian Wells Open.
After a dominant opening set from Medvedev as he broke twice to take a 6-1 lead, Draper put up a better fight in the second as they remained on serve until the 10th game of the set.
Then it all went pear-shaped for Draper on his serve at 5-5 [15-0] as he was called for hindrance and, after a video review, chair umpire Aurelie Tourte gave the point to Medvedev.
But the Brit was unhappy with his opponent as Medvedev finished the rally before deciding to complain and request a video review.
The world No 11 ended up breaking Draper’s serve and then served out the match for a 6-1, 7-5 win that earned him a semi-final match-up against world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
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The pair exchanged words, albeit all very friendly, during the post-match handshake at the net and it went as follows:
Medvedev: “If you are mad with me, I’m sorry.”
Draper: “No, I’m not all.”
Medvedev: “But I would understand.”
Draper: “I don’t think it distracted you enough. That’s what I’m saying.”
Medvedev: “I could say it’s true.”
Draper: “It’s a fair call, you won the match fair and square, but I don’t think it distracted you at all.”
Medvedev: “I don’t feel great.”
Draper: “No, no, it’s fine, it’s a fair call, I just don’t think it distracted you.”
Medvedev: “I understand.”
Your call: Hindrance or not?#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/5Ko8GUncJk
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 13, 2026
During his post-match press conference, Medvedev was asked about the incident and replied: “Now I can actually even talk more, because I have more info. I think I should have done it the moment it happened, like, I should not have waited until the end of the point, and then it would be a bit more, probably available.
“But if you look at my first forehand, I do, after this happens, I could have gone for more. I was kind of tiny bit distracted. So I said to the umpire, like, ‘What should I do? Should I do it next time straightaway?’ And she goes, like, ‘If you want, you can video review.’ I said, ‘Okay, video review.’
“And whatever she decides, she decides, and she decided that it’s a point for me. So I take it.
“That’s basically it. Was I distracted big time? No. Was I distracted a bit? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? I don’t know.”
Medvedev was also asked if things were “okay” with Draper after the match.
“I think so, I mean, it’s more a question for him because, right, because I would be okay with him after what happened, so it’s more a question to him,” he said.
“I think we have a great relationship, so I don’t think one incident like this could make the outcome, especially, as again, I told him straightaway, if she thinks it’s not enough, 15-All, we go on. If she thinks it’s enough, well, then, it’s Love-30, I’m sorry, and that’s what happened.”
He added: “As I say, if you look on the first forehand I do after it happened, I think I could have done a better shot if there was no gesture from Jack.
“So as I say, was I distracted big time? No. Do I feel good about it? Not really. But I also don’t feel like I cheated or something.
“So I got a bit distracted. I let it go, I let the referee decide. I had a lot of calls against me in my life, and I usually don’t handle them well. To get one on my side, I guess feels good as well.”
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