Jannik Sinner surges past Learner Tien in Indian Wells | ATP Tour

Match Report

Sinner surges previous Tien in Indian Wells, units Zverev SF

World No. 2 is chasing his maiden title at BNP Paribas Open

March 12, 2026

Jannik Sinner strapped on his pace skates to race previous Learner Tien in emphatic trend on Thursday on the BNP Paribas Open.

The No. 2 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings produced an aesthetic show filled with first-strike tennis to earn a 6-1, 6-2 triumph towards reigning Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion Tien. Sinner, who edged Joao Fonseca in two tie-break units within the fourth spherical, appeared decided to not get slowed down in one other slugfest and his aggressive method proved too scorching for his 20-year-old opponent to deal with.

Unstoppable and unplayable 🥶@janniksin cruises into the semi-finals at Indian Wells with a flawless 6-1, 6-2 win over Tien! @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/6UDKdx76u3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 12, 2026

“I really feel like in fact expertise [of the matchup] helps you a bit,” mentioned Sinner, who additionally downed Tien in straight units within the Beijing last final October. “Within the different approach, we tried to organize ourselves in the very best approach. He’s a really gifted participant. He will likely be right here many instances, however I’m completely happy how I reacted. I really feel like he was very aggressive, particularly at first, so I attempted to carry again. An vital match for me in fact.”

Tien’s bid for a maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head victory towards Sinner was undermined early when the American lefty gifted Sinner a break with a double fault within the second sport. Sinner hardly seemed again from there and he wrapped his 66-minute win having transformed 4 of 5 break factors he earned, in response to Infosys ATP Stats. The 24-year-old Italian will tackle fourth seed Alexander Zverev for a spot in his first BNP Paribas Open championship match.

Having reached his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final by grinding out back-to-back three-set wins towards Ben Shelton and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tien appeared to battle bodily because the second set of Thursday’s encounter wore on. The American was unable to counter the relentless energy and precision of Sinner’s groundstrokes, and the Italian not often seemed troubled on his technique to a ninth consecutive Masters 1000 match win.

“We got here right here very early,” mentioned Sinner, when requested how he dealt so properly with the recent circumstances in Indian Wells on Thursday. “It was very popular the week earlier than the match, so we did have lengthy coaching periods attempting to get the physique used to it. At present I felt actually good on court docket. It’s for positive an space the place I’m attempting to enhance given the issues I’ve had in Australia.

“I do consider these are constructive issues, small departments the place we’ve got to enhance. I’m completely happy how we’ve ready for the matches and naturally the subsequent one goes to be a tricky one.”

Awaiting Sinner within the final 4 in ‘Tennis Paradise’ will likely be fourth seed Zverev, who earlier eased previous Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3. The 28-year-old Zverev, who turned simply the fifth participant to finish the set of semi-final appearances in any respect 9 Masters 1000 occasions by overcoming thirtieth seed Fils, will bid to snap a five-match shedding streak towards Sinner in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Sinner has captured 5 of the six Masters 1000 titles, with the Indian Wells trophy being the one one lacking from his assortment. Ought to he overcome Zverev and go on to elevate the trophy on Sunday within the California desert, he would grow to be simply the third man after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to finish that set.