Cameron Norrie’s Indian Wells run ended in the quarter-finals as American Frances Tiafoe beat the Briton in straight sets.
The 6-4, 6-4 loss ended Norrie’s eight-game winning streak. The 2021 champion in Indian Wells won the title in Rio de Janeiro last month and has a 21-4 win-loss record for the year.
After a rare rain delay halted play early in the match, Tiafoe whipped a cross forehand winner to break Norrie for a 4-3 lead in the opening set.
The dynamic Tiafoe, who fed on favorable crowd energy, then pushed Norrie into an error on set point as he entered the net.
Tiafoe saw his double lead in the second set reduced to one when he double faulted at 5-3.
But he managed to serve the match at his next opportunity, unleashing a 139mph ace to set up match point before ending the deal when Norrie’s forehand sailed long.
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Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the ATP Masters quarter-finals from Indian Wells with a 6-2, 2-0 win after Jack Draper retired with an injury after 46 minutes.
“I really feel like when I’m there mentally, I’m one of the best players in the world,” Tiafoe said.
“Today is not just about reaching the semi-finals, I’m happy to beat a guy like that, who played so well.
“To be able to come here and beat him in straight sets, relatively comfortable. In the end it got a bit tricky, but it was pretty much one-sided and I’m really happy with the state of my game.”
Tiafoe, who is yet to drop a set at the tournament in the Southern California desert, reached the semifinals of last year’s US Open where he lost to the eventual Champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Next up for 14th seed Tiafoe is a meeting with Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.