For one, it finally brought an end to one of the longest-running quirks of the Russian No. 1’s career. Until now, Medvedev had never managed to win the same tournament twice. His triumph in Dubai changed that, adding a second title to the one he claimed back in 2023.

And secondly, the final itself was never played.

With reports of explosions across the Middle East, including the UAE, there were genuine concerns that the championship match might be canceled for security reasons. In the end, however, a different factor proved decisive. Finalist Tallon Griekspoor suffered an injury during his semifinal victory over Andrey Rublev. Although he was able to finish that match and deny fans an all-Russian final, less than 24 hours later the injury ruled him out of the tournament altogether.

Even without taking the court for the final, Medvedev enjoyed an outstanding week in Dubai. Across four matches, he did not drop a single set and conceded just 18 games in total. His semifinal against Félix Auger-Aliassime was arguably his finest performance of the season. Everything clicked — from his serve to the breathtaking rallies.

Both the first-set point and the match point deserve a place among the best moments of his career. The former featured a grueling 24-shot exchange that showcased Medvedev’s trademark defensive resilience before he produced a stunning winner down the line. Judging by the expression on his face, even Daniil himself was impressed.

With two titles already under his belt this season — following his victory in Brisbane in January — Medvedev heads to the American Masters swing full of confidence. He currently sits third in the ATP Race with 1,000 points.

Even the notoriously unpopular balls used at Indian Wells, something Medvedev has criticized for years, seem unlikely to spoil his mood. After all, he has already reached the final there once before, proving he has what it takes to overcome whatever challenges the tournament throws his way.