Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev advance to Indian Wells quarter-finals

Four-time major champion Jannik Sinner narrowly defeated Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) on Tuesday at Indian Wells, reaching the quarter-finals.It was the first time the world number two Sinner played 19-year-old Fonseca, and the match thrilled the crowd, especially Brazilian fans.Sinner will next face 20-year-old Learner Tien from the United States for a semi-final spot.The first set was very close, with both players missing chances. Fonseca even led 6-3 in the tiebreaker, but Sinner hit an ace and won five points in a row to take the set.In the second set, Sinner took a 4-2 lead, but Fonseca broke back and made it 5-5, sending the set to another tiebreaker.Sinner then won four straight points, finishing the match with a brilliant forehand return to seal the victory.

"I felt like trying to be as aggressive as possible was the key," said Sinner, who is chasing a first title in the prestigious Masters 1000 event in the California desert."Joao's an incredible talent, very powerful from both sides. He was serving very well."Maybe he dropped a little bit at the end of the second set, but I'm very happy to get through," Sinner added.Tien saved two match points to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

"Honestly, after saving match points going into the tiebreak, just felt like I was playing with house money almost, really had nothing to lose," said Tien, a Southern California native who has fond memories of attending the tournament as a child.French player Arthur Fils made an impressive comeback from injury by beating ninth-ranked Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) to reach the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.Fils will now face fourth-ranked German Alexander Zverev, who defeated American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4.The 21-year-old Fils, ranked 32nd in the world, has reached the Indian Wells last eight for the second year in a row, despite having missed eight months due to back problems. He returned to competition last month at Montpellier and recently reached the final in Doha.In the match against Auger-Aliassime, Fils seemed in control with a 4-2 lead in the second set, but the Canadian came back strongly.

Fils saved five set points in the tiebreaker and finally sealed a straight-sets victory."I was at 0-5 in the tie-break and I was going to my box and complaining and complaining," he said, adding that the advice he got was to stop complaining and focus on the match."I tried to focus as best I could. Not too much emotion, celebration. Just tunnel vision and I am happy with it," said Fils, who let the emotion emerge again with a mighty chest thump after putting away match point.