Sinner into semis as winning streak extends to 19

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner extended his winning run to 19 matches with a comfortable win over Jiri Lehecka to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells.

The Italian beat the Czech player, ranked 32 in the world, 6-3 6-3.

"He [Lehecka] has huge potential so I was really aware of every point that I made," said third seed Sinner, 22.

Sinner will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or German Alexander Zverev in the last four.

World number two Alcaraz, who beat Sinner at the same stage of the tournament last year on his way to lifting the trophy, faces sixth seed Zverev later on Thursday. It is a re-match of the Australian Open quarter-final, which Zverev won.

World number three Sinner last tasted defeat in last year's ATP Tour Finals - where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final - and has enjoyed a perfect start to the 2024 season with 16 wins.

That includes his Australian Open victory in January along with a triumph in Rotterdam last month.

In windy conditions in California, Sinner was in fine form as he broke early in each set and saved the only break point he faced against Lehecka, who was playing in his first ATP 1000 quarter-final.

"In the morning, it was really, really windy," Sinner said after the victory. "The first set was tough to handle.

"In a way I am just happy because I made the semi-finals last year and this year I have again a chance to play in the semis in one of the greatest tournaments we have throughout the whole year."