Alcaraz & Sinner cruise into Last 8

Indian Wells (United States), March 13: 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.

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-year-old world number three said as he lines 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 semi-finals in California in what would be the latest instalment 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 quarter-final 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 58thranked Marozsan after losing their only other meeting at last year’s Rome Masters. The top seed reeled off 22 winners in 75 minutes to race into the quarterfinals.