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The 21-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner is through to his first Masters 1000 semi-final in almost two years. Sinner dethroned Taylor Fritz 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Indian Wells quarter-final after two hours and 17 minutes to advance into the last four.
Two years ago, Taylor beat Jannik in straight sets in Indian Wells, and the Italian served revenge to take the trophy away from the home favorite and remain on the title course. Taylor fired almost 30 service winners, not enough to keep him safe.
He hit 16 winners from the field and sprayed over 40 mistakes to plague his chances. Sinner stayed on a 28-38 ratio, serving well in the decider after an initial setback and stealing the rival's serve in the closing stages to emerge at the top.
Jannik lost serve twice from three chances offered to Taylor and seized three out of nine opportunities to celebrate the victory. Thanks to those unreturned serves, Fritz built a nice advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes.
Jannik Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz in three sets for his second Masters 1000 SF.
However, Sinner destroyed him in the most advanced rallies with nine strokes or more, taming his strokes nicely and emerging over the top.
Jannik cracked a forehand crosscourt winner in the encounter's first game for a break chance. He forced Taylor's mistake to seize and grab an early advantage. Sinner saved a break point in the second game with another mighty forehand and held for 2-0.
Fritz served to stay in the set at 3-5 and faced a set point after an error at the net. The American saved it with an ace down the T line and held to prolong the action. The Italian served for the set at 5-4 and held at love with an ace to wrap up the encounter's first part in 48 minutes.
They stayed neck and neck in the second set's opening nine games, with nothing for the returners except for a couple of points. Fritz moved 5-4 in front with a hold at 30 and forced Sinner to serve to stay in the set. The nerves started to show up, and the Italian faced two set points after netting a routine forehand.
Taylor seized the first with a forehand down the line winner to introduce a decider and gain a boost. They traded breaks at the start of the final set, and Fritz found himself 40-0 down in game three. The American saved all three break points and grabbed five straight points to bring the game home and avoid another upset.
Fritz defended another break point in game seven but could not repeat that at 4-4. Sinner pushed strong on the return and broke the defending champion at 15 to serve for the victory at 5-4. Jannik sealed the deal in style, holding at love with a service winner and setting the semi-final clash with world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.