After a rocky start that saw him drop the first three meetings to Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime finally broke through this Thursday at Indian Wells. The Canadian advanced cleanly to the semifinals, where he would meet Jannik Sinner, the formidable Italian who waits with another tough challenge. Alcaraz asserted his authority over the world number ten in a dominant 6-4, 6-4 victory that stretched over two hours and reshaped the board in California.
With this win, the Spaniard moved into the semifinals for the second year in a row in the California desert, a place he previously reached before a memorable battle with Rafael Nadal in 2022. Seizing the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic would require clinching the title in Indian Wells, a goal within reach as the Spaniard continues his ascent.
To secure the title, Alcaraz will have to overcome Sinner on Saturday. The Italian stunned the defending champion in the quarterfinals, defeating Taylor Fritz with scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 17 minutes. Ranked 13th in the world, Sinner had already beaten Alcaraz in the 2022 Umag final and later eliminated him from Wimbledon in the last-16 round, though Alcaraz rebounded with a quarterfinal win at the US Open in a match of high drama.
The other semifinal features Frances Tiafoe and Daniil Medvedev, who is enjoying a remarkable stretch with 18 consecutive wins across Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai. The result sets the stage for a compelling Saturday with two more elevated clashes to crown a finalist.
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On a cool night at Indian Wells, the arena was nearly full as two rising talents faced off against the enduring trio of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic, while Auger-Aliassime, at 22, added another chapter to their budding rivalry. An intriguing stat stood out: Alcaraz, known as the young challenger, had never broken Auger-Aliassime’s serve in their 31 exchanges prior to this match, and he had wasted 11 potential opportunities in their earlier meetings.
Though the opening exchanges were tense, the drought would not last. Alcaraz began with solid serving, forcing Auger-Aliassime into defensive situations, and broke through on his sixth chances as the Canadian fought back valiantly with a fierce serve. Early on, the Spaniard flashed moments of his best form, including precise drop shots and a spectacular rally that culminated in a careful lob—the crowd roared as Alcaraz closed out the point at the net. The moment drew a fist pump from Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and a sign that the Spaniard was ready to seize control of the match.
Saving a single break point in the first set, Alcaraz pressed on and sealed the set with a flawless parallel forehand. Auger-Aliassime sought a comeback, but could not replicate the heroics from the round of 16 against Tommy Paul. He began the second set serving well but faltered briefly at 1-1, calling a timeout that shifted momentum in Alcaraz’s favor and anchored the match in the Spaniard’s favor for the remainder of the night.
Alcaraz did not rush; he maintained calm, waited for his opportunities, and gradually extended his lead as Auger-Aliassime’s resolve wore down. The Canadian delivered two powerful serves to save the 15-40 deficit but finally conceded after a tense sequence that left him visibly exhausted. The Spaniard moved methodically toward the finish, keeping his serve intact and dictating play as the crowd watched in expectation. The progression was steady, and the moment was ripe for Alcaraz to press through the closing games with control and precision.
After the match, Alcaraz spoke with satisfaction about defeating one of the sport’s most challenging competitors. He expressed pride in achieving this victory in the stadium and advancing to the semifinals after a performance that highlighted his current form and confidence in the event’s high-stakes atmosphere.