(Indian Wells) Frances Tiafoe defeated 10th seed Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals of the Indian Wells tournament.
Tiafoe ended the 2021 tournament champion’s eight-game winning streak, advancing to his first Masters 1000 semi-final.
“I’m very happy,” Tiafoe said after the game. I’ve played very well so far this week, so hopefully it will continue that way. »
The American had 22 winners against just nine unforced errors. Tiafoe wrapped up the match, which was briefly interrupted by rain, with a perfect serve game.
“I played a quick game close to the baseline,” he added. I put pressure on him. I didn’t allow him to extend the points and I kept active with my feet so as to be very aggressive. »
Tiafoe hasn’t lost a set in four games so far in the tournament. His next opponent will be Daniil Medvedev, who beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-5.
Medvedev won his 18th straight game and improved to 23-2 in 2023. He injured his right ankle a day earlier in a three-set victory over Alexander Zverev.
“It hurt quite a bit during the warm-up,” Medvedev admitted. On the other hand, I knew that I would be able to play. »
The Russian’s misfortunes were not over. Medvedev fell in the sixth game of the second set and cut himself an inch. His finger had to be bandaged during a medical time out.
Medvedev broke Davidovich Fokina’s serve at zero to take a 6-5 lead, then he closed the books on serve. Medvedev won 12 of the game’s last 14 points.
In doubles, Canadians Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov lost 6-4, 7-5 to Matthew Ebden and Rohan Bopanna in the quarterfinals.
