Superb Tiafoe beats former champion Norrie to reach first Masters 1000 semi-final
The American will play either Daniil Medvedev, the No 5 seed, or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the No 23 seed, in the semis
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American Frances Tiafoe reached a Masters 1000 semi-final for the first time in his career after he beat former champion Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday.
The No 14 seed coped better with the breezy conditions and never allowed Norrie, the 2021 champion who won his last tournament in Rio, the rhythm he enjoys.
Tiafoe will play the winner of the match between Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 5 seed, and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the No 23 seed, next.
Tiafoe dominates the net to ease home
After easing through the first set, Tiafoe raced to a 5-2 lead only to falter slightly, a double fault handing the first break back and then Norrie winning his serve to love to put the pressure on the American.
But Tiafoe showed no sign of nerves as he closed out the match second time round. He won 10 of 12 points at the net, and pointed to that stat as a reason for his success.
I’m at my best when I am coming forward. I’m dangerous and tennis is more fun when you’re sticking volleys.
Frances Tiafoe
“I’ve got to get my ass up there,” he said. “I’m at my best when I am coming forward. I’m dangerous and tennis is more fun when you’re sticking volleys. I’m really happy with the way I played today.”
Tiafoe has yet to drop a set in Indian Wells, having defeated Marcos Giron (6-2, 6-2), Australian Jason Kubler (6-3, 6-2) and Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo (6-4, 6-4) ahead of his victory over Norrie.
Earlier in the tournament, world No 12 Norrie, the Indian Wells champion in 2021, beat Tung-lin Wu (6-2, 6-4), Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel (6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2) and Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 6 seed (6-2, 6-4).
Indian Wells Masters, other quarter-final results (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 8.800.000, most recent results first):
- Taylor Fritz vs. Jannik Sinner : later Wednesday
- Carlos Alcaraz vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime: Thursday
- Daniil Medvedev vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Thursday
