Sinner advances to Indian Wells quarter-finals after hard-fought win over Fonseca

[p]The first meeting between the world number two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] and the big-hitting 19-year-old lived up to expectations, the fireworks sparking a raucous response from a crowd packed with enthusiastic Brazilian fans.[/p][p]Sinner will face another fast-rising youngster in 20-year-old Learner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tien-learner/xUHOBJK6/"]Tien[/a] of the United States for a place in the semi-finals.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Fonseca[/a] went toe-to-toe with the Italian in a tense first set but was unable to convert his lone break chance, and Sinner failed to capitalize on two.[/p][p]A couple of uncharacteristic Sinner errors helped Fonseca power to a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker, but the Italian responded, denying one set point with an ace to launch a run of five straight points that sealed the set.[/p][p]Sinner looked headed to a comfortable victory with a break for 4-2 in the second, but Fonseca wasn't about to go quietly.[/p][p]He broke Sinner to love in the ninth game and held for 5-5 as they went to a second tiebreaker.[/p][p]An ace gave Fonseca a 4-3 lead in the decider, but Sinner surged home with four straight points, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fonseca-j-tv073LUc/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=llCvO3t9"]polishing off the win[/a] with a masterful forehand service return.[/p][p][b]"I felt like trying to be as aggressive as possible was the key,"[/b] said Sinner, who is chasing a first title in the prestigious Masters 1000 event in the California desert.[/p][p][b]"Joao's an incredible talent, very powerful from both sides. He was serving very well.[/b][/p][p][b]"Maybe he dropped a little bit at the end of the second set, but I'm very happy to get through,"[/b] Sinner added.[/p][p]Tien saved two match points to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Spain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davidovich-fokina-alejandro/0zQXLfz4/"]Alejandro Davidovich Fokina[/a].[/p][p][b]"Honestly, after saving match points going into the tiebreak, just felt like I was playing with house money almost, really had nothing to lose,"[/b] said Tien, a Southern California native who has fond memories of attending the tournament as a child.[/p][embed guid="89dd5ee3-62ef-4689-a9a0-5f33a2e55a92" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NpGFrZqodo" social-type="youtube" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a]'s injury comeback gathered pace as the Frenchman upset ninth-ranked Canadian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/arthur-f-IoIhUqIN/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=nTVr3kE4"]6-3, 7-6[/a] (11/9) to book a quarter-final meeting with fourth-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a].[/p][p]Germany's Zverev downed American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Frances Tiafoe[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/arthur-f-IoIhUqIN/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=nTVr3kE4"]6-3, 6-4[/a].[/p][p]Fils is in the Indian Wells last eight for the second straight year, but it's been a twisting road to arrive there.[/p][p]Back trouble kept him off the courts for eight months, but since a return at Montpellier last month, he has impressed with a run to the final in Doha.[/p][p]The 21-year-old, now ranked 32nd in the world, appeared to be in control with a 4-2 lead in the second set. But he let that advantage slip away and trailed 0-5 in the tiebreaker before he steadied, saving five set points before wrapping up the straight-sets win.[/p][p][b]"I was at 0-5 in the tie-break and I was going to my box and complaining and complaining,"[/b] he said, adding that the advice he got was to stop complaining and focus on the match.[/p][p][b]"I tried to focus as best I could. Not too much emotion, celebration. Just tunnel vision and I am happy with it,"[/b] said Fils, who let the emotion emerge again with a mighty chest thump after putting away match point.[/p]