Indian Wells: Alcaraz Exacts Revenge Over Norrie, Sinner Downs Tien

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 11:14 IST

Alcaraz posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Norrie to avenged his previous defeat to the Brit while Sinner powered past Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2.

Carlos Alcaraz extended his unbeaten season and avenged his previous loss to Cameron Norrie on Thursday, reaching the semi-finals at Indian Wells for the fifth consecutive year. The world number one from Spain secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 29th-ranked Norrie in a challenging match.

Alcaraz will face Russian Daniil Medvedev next, who extended his ATP winning streak to eight matches with a 6-1, 7-5 win against defending champion Jack Draper. World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 to set up a semi-final against fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev, who defeated Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3.

At 22, Alcaraz became the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam with his Australian Open victory and followed it up with a title in Qatar. He improved his 2026 season record to 16-0 with the win over Norrie, who had beaten him at the Paris Masters in November.

“I struggle a lot with his style," Alcaraz said of the heavy-hitting left-hander Norrie. “Every time I play against him it’s always really tough for me. It’s a little bit confusing with his style, his topspin forehand, super high. And then the backhand, really flat and really low."

After trailing 4-2 in the opening set, Norrie broke Alcaraz at love for 4-3. However, Alcaraz regrouped with another break and secured the set in 31 minutes. Norrie broke again for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Alcaraz won the next four games. Norrie saved two match points on his serve before Alcaraz efficiently served out the win.

“I’m finding the right shot," Alcaraz said. “I played well. I played solid. I played aggressive when I could."

Medvedev, coming off a title run in Dubai last month, took control early against Draper, who had a tough win over Novak Djokovic on Wednesday night. “The first set was unreal, I couldn’t miss a ball," Medvedev said. “It was an unbelievable level. Second set he tried to give everything he had, and he had an opportunity," Medvedev noted, but the Russian saved the only break point he faced with an ace.

Medvedev then secured the lone break of the second set to lead 6-5. Draper was frustrated early in that 11th game when the chair umpire, queried by Medvedev, ruled that the Briton had caused a hindrance with a raised arm gesture during a point. Medvedev said he was distracted, and the umpire suggested it could be reviewed on video, subsequently awarding the Russian the point. “Was I distracted big time? No," Medvedev said, but added he thought Draper’s gesture affected the quality of one of his forehands in the rally. “Do I feel good about it? Not really," he said. “But I also don’t feel like I cheated or something."

In the other half of the draw, Sinner kept his bid for a first Indian Wells title on track with a straightforward victory over 20-year-old American Tien. Sinner capitalized on a double fault from Tien for a break in the second game and cruised from there, breaking Tien four times and saving all four break points he faced. Tien, who saved a pair of match points in his quarter-final win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, appeared to be struggling in the second set. Sinner, who had his own issues in the steamy conditions at the Australian Open, said the hot afternoon weather wasn’t a problem. “Today I felt really good on court," he said. “It’s for sure an area where I’m trying to improve given the problems I’ve had in Australia."

Zverev reached the Indian Wells semi-finals for the first time with a similarly comfortable victory over France’s Fils. Zverev became just the fifth player to reach the semi-finals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.

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