Carlos Alcaraz sets up Daniil Medvedev Indian Wells semi-final, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina advance

INDIAN WELLS – World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz charged past Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 on March 12 to set up an Indian Wells semi-final against Daniil Medvedev, after the Russian ended defending champion Jack Draper’s run 6-1, 7-5.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka also reached the last four in the women’s draw with a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 win over Victoria Mboko, but Iga Swiatek was unable to find her way past Elina Svitolina and fell 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Alcaraz improved his record to 16-0 to start the season with a solid display and remained on course for a third Indian Wells crown. He was briefly in trouble at 0-2 down in the second set but quickly regained the momentum to see off Briton Norrie.

“It was really difficult; I struggled with Cameron’s style,” he said.

“I was trying to play my best but there was a little bit of confusion. His forehand has super topspin and his backhands are very flat, so sometimes it’s tricky to play against him and find the correct shots.

“But I played solid and aggressive when I could. I’m happy to be at this level.”

Medvedev, the 11th seed, was also in impressive form against Briton Draper, who had little time to recover after his stunning three-set win over Novak Djokovic on March 11.

“The first set was unreal; I couldn’t miss a ball. It was an unbelievable level,” said Medvedev, who made the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev beat Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3 to make the Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time.

The German faces a big challenge in the next round, however, as he takes on world No. 2 Jannik Sinner after the Italian made light work of American Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2.

In the women’s draw, world No. 2 Swiatek struggled early against Svitolina, with the Ukrainian capitalising on five double faults to secure three breaks and take the opening set in 38 minutes.

She found her rhythm in the second to force a decider, but Svitolina regained the upper hand by securing the only break in a tight third set before confidently closing out the match.

“I’m extremely happy; it was a tough match,” said Svitolina, who is back in the Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time in seven years.

“Iga always brings a bit extra out of me with that fighting spirit. I had to really push myself.”

Belarusian Sabalenka had a battle on her hands against rising talent Mboko. The top seed was taken to a first-set tiebreak, which she won to love – a career first.

The second set followed a similar script, with Mboko clawing her way back to 5-4 and threatening another tiebreak but the four-time Grand Slam champion closed it out to reach the semi-finals.

“She is definitely a future Grand Slam champion,” Sabalenka said. “It’s incredible to see how brave these young girls are these days.”

She next plays Linda Noskova, who ended Australian qualifier Talia Gibson’s fairy-tale run 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Reigning Australian Open champion and 2023 Indian Wells winner Elena Rybakina advanced with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Jessica Pegula to reach another semi-final in the California desert, where the Kazakh will play Svitolina. REUTERS