INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Daniil Medvedev secured his spot in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Thursday, but his quarterfinal victory over Jack Draper was overshadowed by a highly contentious call. Medvedev defeated Draper 6-1, 7-5, a match punctuated by a ruling of “hindrance” against the Briton that sparked immediate debate and visible frustration from the California crowd.
The pivotal moment occurred at 5-5 in the second set, with Draper trailing 0-15. Following a disputed line call where a Medvedev shot landed in the net, Draper raised his arms in a gesture of questioning the call. Umpire Aurélie Tourte, after reviewing video footage, determined that Draper’s action had distracted Medvedev, awarding the point to the Russian. This crucial break ultimately proved decisive, allowing Medvedev to close out the set and the match.
The decision drew immediate criticism, with many questioning whether Draper’s gesture was significant enough to constitute hindrance. A Twitter post quickly circulated, showing the moment and expressing disbelief at the call, questioning why the umpire, Aurélie Tourte, was repeatedly involved in controversial incidents. (See embedded tweet below).
there is NO WAY this was enough for an hindrance call, jack barely lifted his arm without making the slightest noise and meddy played two shots after that. Too why is it always aurelie at the crime scene im so pissed pic.twitter.com/clmtHTawTS
— ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴀʟʟ🍷— (@causeafteralll) March 13, 2026
Despite the controversy, Medvedev closed out the second set 7-5. A gracious Draper shook hands with both Medvedev and Tourte as he left the court, though he reportedly expressed his disagreement with the call directly to Medvedev at the net, stating, “You won the match fairly, but I don’t think I distracted you on that point.”
Medvedev, speaking after the match, acknowledged the situation was unusual. “Now I can speak more clearly about what happened due to the fact that I have more information, but I think I should have done it in the moment when it happened and shouldn’t have waited until the end of the point,” he explained. “If you look at my first forehand after it happened, it would have gone stronger. I was a little distracted. So I told the umpire, ‘What should I do? Should I do it next time?’ And she said, ‘If you want, I can ask for a video review,’ and I said okay. And what she decided was her decision and it was a point for me, and I won it. That’s what happened. Did they distract me a lot of time? No. Did they distract me a little? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? I don’t know.”
Medvedev downplayed any potential lasting impact on his relationship with Draper. “I’m okay with Jack, that’s a question for him because I don’t feel terrible with him after what happened. I think we have a great relationship, so I don’t think this incident has determined the result of the match, especially because I told him if the umpire thought it wasn’t enough, it would be 15-15, and if she thought it was, it would be 0-30. I apologized to him and that’s what happened.”
The Russian admitted Draper’s gesture did momentarily affect him. “If you see the first forehand I hit after his action, I think I could have made a better shot if Jack hadn’t made that gesture. As I said before, did it distract me a lot? No. Do I feel good about what happened? No, but I also don’t feel like I cheated. His gesture did distract me a little, I let it move and let the umpire decide. I’ve had many decisions in my life and I don’t usually manage them well, but I guess it’s okay for one to fall on my side.”
The first set was decidedly one-sided, with Medvedev breaking Draper in his opening service game after a net cord favored the Russian. Medvedev quickly established a 4-0 lead, showcasing his down-the-line and cross-court winners. Draper managed to hold serve to create it 5-1, but Medvedev closed out the set 6-1 in just 25 minutes.
The second set proved more competitive, though Draper’s serve consistently faced pressure. The match came on the heels of Draper’s stunning upset victory over Novak Djokovic less than 24 hours prior, a physically demanding match that appeared to take a toll on the Briton.
Medvedev will now face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, after Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 earlier on Thursday. Norrie, the British No. 2, put up a fight but ultimately succumbed to Alcaraz’s superior form. The semifinal clash between Medvedev and Alcaraz promises to be a compelling contest between two of the sport’s top players.
The incident raises questions about the interpretation of the “hindrance” rule in tennis and the role of video review in such situations. While intended to ensure fair play, the application of the rule remains subjective and open to debate, as evidenced by the strong reactions from fans and observers at Indian Wells.
Medvedev and Alcaraz will take to the court on Saturday, March 14th, at 4:00 PM PST (7:00 PM EST, 00:00 UTC March 15th) for a place in the final. Fans can follow live updates and scores on the official BNP Paribas Open website and through major sports broadcasters.
What are your thoughts on the controversial call? Share your opinions in the comments below.
