Alcaraz cruises into Indian Wells QF
INDIAN WELLS, California: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Italian rival Jannik Sinner remained on course for a semifinal showdown after cruising into the last eight of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Alcaraz sailed into the last eight as he took revenge on Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
In-form Sinner, meanwhile, booked his last eight berth with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 defeat of Ben Shelton.
Sinner’s win was his 18th straight victory dating to late last season, leaving him three wins away from his third title of the season after winning the Australian Open and Rotterdam.
“I played really well in the tight moments,” the 22-yearold world No. 3 said as he lined up against Czech Jiri Lehecka in the quarters.
“I knew I would not get much rhythm from him. I can be proud of how I played. The wind didn’t make it easier, but I tried to stay positive, and it worked out.”
Sinner could face Spain’s reigning Wimbledon champion Alcaraz in the semifinals in California in what would be the latest installment of a burgeoning rivalry.
The duo fought an epic US Open quarterfinal in 2022 and met in the semifinals at Indian Wells and Miami Masters events last season.
Alcaraz must navigate a quarterfinal against sixth seed Alexander Zverev before any meeting with Sinner. Zverev reached the last eight after defeating Alex de Minaur, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3, in two and three-quarter hours. Alcaraz had a score to settle with the 58th-ranked Marozsan after losing their only other meeting at last year’s Rome Masters.
Alcaraz never let his opponent into the fourth-round match, breaking twice in the opening set and winning 12 of the first 13 points of the second.
The top seed reeled off 22 winners in 75 minutes to race into the quarterfinals.