Indian Wells: Half an Alcaraz-Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz is only two wins away from regaining the world No. 1 spot! The 19-year-old Spaniard qualified for the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, like last year, after finally beating the one who had dominated him in their first confrontations, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Visibly recovered from his physical worries, the winner of the last US Open left the Canadian no chance, beating him 6-4, 6-4 in 1h59 of play. The Spaniard was solid in this game, losing serve only once. In the first set, he broke Auger-Aliassime at 2-2 on his fifth chance, then saved a break point as he served for the set (6-4). In the second, the two men broke each other in the first two games (1-1), then “FAA” had to save two break points at 1-1. They then rolled out on their serve, until 4-4 where Alcaraz took the opposing face-off one last time before winning without shaking. It is therefore a third semi-final for him in three tournaments this season!

Sinner cracks Fritz at the end

For a place in the final, Carlos Alcaraz will face another young player, Jannik Sinner, whom he already knows well since the two men have already played each other five times since 2019, on all surfaces (3-2 for the Spaniard). The Italian offered himself the luxury of eliminating the defending champion, Taylor Fritz, in three sets and 2h19 of play: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The American lost his opener serve and missed the only chance he had to come back in the first set, pocketed by Sinner on a final shutout. But Fritz paid the Italian back in the second set, breaking him on the very last game, after a set without a break point so far. Everything was decided in the third set, where the two players broke on the first two games (1-1), and it was finally at 4-4 that Fritz cracked and lost his service, then the match on a shutout at 5-4, and therefore his title. The Californian will lose five places in the standings and will only be 10th next Monday.