Sinner sails into Indian Wells semi-finals

INDIAN WELLS - Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner powered into the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters semi-finals on Thursday, pushing his match-winning streak to 19-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Czech Jiri Lehecka.

Sinner's win streak stretches back through last year's Davis Cup finals and includes a perfect 16-0 record in 2024.

Since capturing his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne -- where he stunned Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals -- Sinner has lifted the trophy in Rotterdam.

In breezy conditions on court two, Sinner was in firm control, breaking early in each set and saving the only break point he faced in the match.

"Today was for sure a different situation," Sinner said. "In the beginning was windy, but I handled it very well.

"He's an incredible player with huge potential from both swings. He was serving really well. For sure I'm happy about the performance.

"There was not so much rhythm today, so, you know, it's a little bit different kind of matchup, but for sure I'm really happy about the performance and happy to be back here in the semi-finals."

Sinner will next face either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain or Alexander Zverev -- who clash in a rematch of an Australian Open quarter-final won in four sets by the German.

World number two Alcaraz, chasing his first title since he vanquished Djokovic at Wimbledon last July, has gone from strength to strength in the California desert, showing no sign that the sprained ankle that forced him out of his opening match in Rio de Janeiro in February is still troubling him.

But Zverev, ranked sixth in the world, has won five of their eight prior meetings, including that Australian Open upset.

"Obviously we're going to try to improve the things I did wrong in Australia, play at our level and not let him dominate the match," Alcaraz said as he anticipated a "tough and fun" rematch.

Two other top-10 players clash when fourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev -- runner-up to Alcaraz last year -- takes on number seven Holger Rune -- who saved a match point on the way to victory over 2022 Indian Wells winner Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.

The winner of that match will play American Tommy Paul, who turned the tables on Casper Ruud with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over the ninth-ranked Norwegian.

Paul belted 35 winners, saving two break points when serving for the match before clinching it on his second match point.

"It's awesome," said Paul, who had dropped four of his five prior meetings with Ruud. "I'm really pumped with how I'm playing."