Dimitrov shock for Medvedev; Azarenka makes semis

TOP seed Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after a three-set defeat to Grigor Dimitrov.

The Bulgarian staged a spectacular fightback from a set and a double-break down to triumph 4-6 6-4 6-3 as the newly-crowned US Open champion’s game collapsed.

Medvedev had been in dominant form since his breakthrough win at Flushing Meadows and nothing looked set to change as he took the first set and stormed into a 4-1 lead in the second.

But inexplicably the Russian lost his range and Dimitrov

reeled off eight games in succession to not only level the match but to establish a strong advantage in the decider.

The Bulgarian duly served out to love to complete one of the biggest wins of his career and seal his place in the quarterfinals. He was joined by Britain’s Cameron Norrie who reached the last eight of a Masters 1000 event for the first time after defeating Tommy Paul.

The British number two overcame the American in three sets, reaching the last eight with a 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory.

Diego Schwartzman is also through to the quarter-finals after a 6-3 6-3 win against Casper Rudd, while there was also a straight-sets victory for

Hubert Hurkacz who overcame Aslan Karatsev 6-1 6-3.

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was troubled initially by Alex de Minaur before defeating the Australian 6-7 (3) 7-6 (3) 6-2, with the Greek next facing Nikoloz Basilashvili following the Georgian’s straight-sets upset of 24th seed Karen Khachanov.

And American Taylor Fritz will play third seed Alexander Zverev after respective victories against Jannik Sinner and Gael Monfils.

In the women’s action, exchampion Victoria Azarenka booked her spot in the semifinals after a straight-sets victory over Jessica Pegula.

Azarenka - a two-time Indian Wells champion in 2012 and 2016 - accounted for Pegula 6-4, 6-2 at the WTA Premier 1000 event.

The former world number one will play 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals after she got past American Shelby Rogers.

Ostapenko earned her final-four spot with a see-sawing 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win in two hours, 15 minutes over Rogers.

In a match that included 15 breaks of serve, Ostapenko won the final five games as she rallied to secure victory and her third semi-final of the year.

“I’m really happy to be in the semi-final. It’s been a tough year for me, I’ve been up and down,” Ostapenko - the 24th seed - said.