India, March 15 -- Carlos Alcaraz looked set to extend his 16-match winning streak and perfect start to the 2026 season, but was eliminated from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California at the hands of Daniil Medvedev in a straight-set shock.

Medvedev, a former world number one who has been struggling to regain his best form and confidence, put together once of his best performances in several months to overcome the erratic Alcaraz 6-3, 7-6 and snap the Spaniard's unbeaten run at the start of the year.

Alcaraz was the much-fancied player to get through this encounter and set up a first contest of the year against his rival Jannik Sinner in the final, after the Italian had breezed past Alexander Zverev in their own one-sided se...