Frances Tiafoe has overwhelmed Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 at Indian Wells to achieve his first Masters 1000 semi-final.
After a uncommon rain delay halted play within the early levels on Wednesday, Tiafoe whipped a forehand crosscourt winner to interrupt Norrie for a 4-3 lead.
The dynamic American, who fed off the vitality of the supportive crowd, then pressured Norrie into an error on set level by coming into the web.
Tiafoe noticed his double break second-set lead whittled down to at least one when he double faulted at 5-3.
But the 25-year-old managed to serve it out on his subsequent alternative, unleashing an enormous ace to arrange match level earlier than ending the affair when Norrie’s forehand sailed lengthy.
The loss snapped Norrie’s eight-match profitable streak. The match’s tenth seed received the title in Rio de Janeiro final month and has a 21-4 win-loss file for the 12 months.
“I truly feel like when I’m there mentally, I’m one of the best players in the world,” Tiafoe mentioned.
“Today it is not just about getting to the semis, I am happy to beat a guy like that, who has been playing so well.
“To be capable to come out right here and beat him in straight units, comparatively snug. At the tip it received a little bit tough, but it surely was just about one-way site visitors and I’m actually pleased with the place my sport is at.”
Tiafoe, who has yet to drop a set in the southern California desert, reached the semis of last year’s US Open where he fell to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Next up for the 14th-seeded Tiafoe is a gathering with both Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev or Twenty third-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who play their quarter-final afterward Wednesday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
