Indian Wells: Aryna Sabalenka beats ‘future champion’ Victoria Mboko, Iga Swiatek out, Zverev joins Big Four

Alexander Zverev said it felt “very special” to become just the fifth player to reach the semi-finals of all nine ATP Masters 1,000 tournaments and join elite company after he booked his place in the last four at Indian Wells.

The German claimed a confident 6-2 6-3 victory over Frenchman Arthur Fils to reach the last four of the California-based tournament for the first time.

By completing the set of Masters 1,000 semi-final appearances, Zverev joins a club featuring only the ‘Big Four’ of the men’s game – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

“It’s very special to be one of five players in history to ever do it,” Zverev said.

“For sure, yeah, it’s something that I’m very proud of.”

Zverev has taken the title at five of the nine Masters 1,000 events, but he has never won a Grand Slam title despite reaching three major finals.

The fourth seed will have to snap a five-match losing streak against world number two Jannik Sinner if he is to move one step closer to the Indian Wells trophy.

Sinner, the reigning Wimbledon champion, sealed his own spot in the semi-finals with a rapid 66-minute 6-1 6-2 win against American Learner Tien.

The world number two, who is trying to become champion at Indian Wells for the first time, is also bidding for his first title of 2026 after a semi-final exit at the Australian Open and a quarter-final defeat in last month’s Qatar Open.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will face Daniil Medvedev in the other men’s semi-final, after both players overcame British opponents.

Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-4 in their quarter-final, while Medvedev ended British number one Jack Draper’s title defence with a 6-1 7-5 victory.