Google News
Jannik Sinner made a great start to the Masters 1000 season, entering the Indian Wells semi-final and achieving his best result in that category in almost two years. Jannik met the defending champion Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final, dethroning the American 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes.
The Italian served revenge two years after losing to the American in the desert, prevailing in the decider and staying on the title course. Taylor landed almost 30 service winners and added 16 from the field. However, he spoiled his chances after spraying 40 unforced errors.
Jannik added 28 winners and 38 mistakes, bouncing back in the decider and breaking the rival's resistance in the closing stages. Sinner faced three break points, losing serve two times and keeping the pressure on the other side.
The home favorite played against nine break points, getting broken three times and ending his run in the quarter-final. Thanks to those service winners, Fritz forged a notable advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes.
Sinner reigned in the most extended exchanges with nine strokes or more, overpowering his rival with a steady pace and moving into the next round.
Jannik Sinner ousted Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells quarter-final.
The Italian made a reliable start, creating a break chance with a forehand winner in the encounter's first game.
He converted it after forcing the American's mistake, delivering an early break and moving in front. Sinner denied a break point in game two with a powerful forehand, opening a 2-0 advantage. Jannik held after deuces in the eighth game, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set at 3-5.
Taylor sprayed a mistake at the net, facing a set point. He saved it with an ace and held to extend the set and his chances. Jannik served for the opener at 5-4 and produced a commanding hold, striking an ace for 6-4 after 48 minutes.
The servers were too strong in the second set's opening nine games, with Fritz leading 5-4. Sinner showed signs of nerves in the tenth game, netting a routine forehand and facing two set points. Taylor seized the first with a forehand down the line winner at the net, introducing a decider after an hour and 26 minutes.
Sinner made a fresh start and broke in the third set's first game with a backhand crosscourt winner. Fritz pulled the break back in the next one after a forehand down the line winner, leveling the score at 1-1. The Italian fired a backhand down the line winner at the net in the third game for three break chances.
The home favorite denied them and claimed five points in a row, holding with a service winner for 2-1. They served well in games five and six, staying neck and neck. Jannik squandered a break chance in game seven with a loose backhand, allowing his rival to remain on the positive side.
The Italian held for 4-4 with a smash winner and made another push on the return in the next one. Taylor sprayed a forehand error, offering Jannik two break points. Sinner forced Fritz's mistake on the first, moving 5-4 in front and serving for the victory in game ten.
The 11th seed moved over the top in style, holding at love with a service winner and arranging the Carlos Alcaraz clash.