MATCH PREVIEW and PREDICTION | 2024 Indian Wells Open: Jannik SINNER and Carlos ALCARAZ set for mouth watering semi-final showdown

Two of the best in the world right now are set to collide in the opening semi-final of the 2024 Indian Wells Open this evening in California as the ATP Final will be set. But who comes out on top? Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.

Our preview gives you the tale of the tape between the two rivals who for a long time have been seen as the future of the sport. But who makes the final?

Jannik Sinner's epic run continues and doesn't seem like stopping any time soon. The Italian ace is currently 19-0 dating back to last year's Davis Cup and is 16-0 dating back to this season which has seen him win the Australian Open and Rotterdam in particular along the way as he navigates his run at the top of the sport.

Another mantle on the line in his clash with Carlos Alcaraz is the World Number Two spot. A victory on Saturday for Sinner would assure him of claiming the World Number Two ranking for the first time come Monday.

Just like in Melbourne, he is yet to drop a set so far taking in wins over Jiri Lehecka, Ben Shelton, Jan-Lennard Struff and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Alcaraz himself has called him the best player in the world right now and it would be hard to disagree with that statement. Daniil Medvedev though who could await in the final strikes a slightly different tone with the Russian saying himself that Novak Djokovic in particular went into the 40's in his unbeaten run, but was defeated eventually. But can it be Carlos Alcaraz to do it in California as the defending champion aims to send out a Sinner statement.

These two are undoubtedly the favourites to seal the title and for Alcaraz, it would be a first since Wimbledon last year if he goes all the way this weekend. But there has been a renewed optimism for fans of the Spaniard that hasn't been seen for a while.

After recent injuries and also indifferent form, Alcaraz likely with the fact that he can't accrue the World Number One back for a while has been playing with a new freedom. Add to that Juan Carlos Ferrero coming back into the fold after his surgery and Alcaraz is looking more complete again. Aside from an opening set loss to Matteo Arnaldi, Alcaraz has looked very good indeed and last vanquished two past demons in Alexander Zverev during the great bee invasion and also Fabian Marozsan. Both of which have accounted for Alcaraz in the past season, Zverev in particular has always been a tricky nemesis so getting rid of the German provides a potential tonic ahead of facing Sinner.

There isn't a lot to split the pair, but Sinner perhaps holds the edge. The Italian has won their last two clashes both on outdoor hard and he is an even better player since then with a win in Beijing coming before the puke in the bin which saw Sinner go on a miraculous run. Before that, he also won in the Miami semi-final.

This was revenge though for Alcaraz accounting for him in the Indian Wells semi-final last year so could it be a repeat or will Sinner continue his remarkable run?