Showdown on the cards

Alcaraz, Sinner cruise into Indian Wells quarterfinals

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 yesterday. 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 No. 3 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 semifinals 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 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 58thranked Marozsan after losing their only other meeting at last year’s Rome Masters.

Alcaraz never let his opponent into the fourthround 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.

After a slow start this season and an ankle roll several weeks ago in Brazil, the 20-year-old appeared on course to continue his chase to a possible second title here.

“I was nervous before the match, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz said.

“I was playing someone who beat me when I had no chances in the Rome match.”

But he walked off a winner completely pleased with his performance.

“Let’s say (it was) almost perfect. I can play better.

“But I’m really happy with the way I approached the match, the way that I played, and my feelings.”

Elsewhere Tuesday, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas failed to reach a second career quarterfinal here, with the 11th seed losing 6-2, 6-4 to rising Czech youngster Lehecka.

The upset was the youngster’s second in succession after dispatching fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the previous round.

Tsitsipas, whose form has been modest so far this season, achieved the last eight during his 2018 debut at the Tennis Garden but has yet to duplicate that effort.