Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner prolonged his profitable run to 19 matches with a cushty win over Jiri Lehecka to achieve the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
The Italian beat the Czech participant, ranked 32 on the earth, 6-3 6-3.
“He [Lehecka] has enormous potential so I used to be actually conscious of each level that I made,” mentioned third seed Sinner, 22.
Sinner will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or German Alexander Zverev within the final 4.
World quantity two Alcaraz, who beat Sinner on the similar stage of the event final yr on his solution to lifting the trophy, faces sixth seed Zverev afterward Thursday. It’s a re-match of the Australian Open quarter-final, which Zverev gained.
World quantity three Sinner final tasted defeat in final yr’s ATP Tour Finals – the place he misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the remaining – and has loved an ideal begin to the 2024 season with 16 wins.
That features his Australian Open victory in January together with a triumph in Rotterdam final month.
In windy circumstances in California, Sinner was in wonderful kind as he broke early in every set and saved the one break level he confronted towards Lehecka, who was enjoying in his first ATP 1000 quarter-final.
“Within the morning, it was actually, actually windy,” Sinner mentioned after the victory. “The primary set was robust to deal with.
“In a means I’m simply completely happy as a result of I made the semi-finals final yr and this yr I’ve once more an opportunity to play within the semis in one of many biggest tournaments we have now all through the entire yr.”