“That’s what I practice for”: Jannik Sinner reacts to reaching Indian Wells semi-finals after defeating Tien

Jannik Sinner continued his strong campaign at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, defeating the 120-year-old American Lerner Tien 6–1, 6–2 to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells. The world No. 2 delivered a composed performance in the quarter-finals, controlling the match from the baseline and capitalising on key moments to secure victory in straight sets.

The result extends Sinner’s consistency at the tournament. The Italian has once again progressed into the final stages of the event in the California desert, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most reliable performers on hard courts at ATP Masters 1000 level.

Sinner’s latest win also continues a solid start to the 2026 season. The 22-year-old Italian has remained among the leading contenders on the ATP Tour, combining aggressive baseline play with improved serving efficiency during the tournament.

Following the match, Sinner pointed to the work carried out over recent months as a key factor behind his current level, emphasising that the improvements seen in Indian Wells are the result of a longer-term process rather than a sudden rise in form.

Sinner explained that his performance at Indian Wells reflects a sustained training effort, particularly during the last few months of preparation. According to the Italian, the work carried out with his team has focused on raising his overall level and ensuring greater consistency in key moments during matches.

“I think it’s not only this week. The work we have been doing has been going on for quite some time. We have been working very hard, especially in the last two or three months. We probably worked even harder than before. It’s just a matter of time before the level rises.”

Serving was another element Sinner highlighted after the match. Throughout the tournament he has shown efficiency behind his first delivery, an aspect that helped him manage critical situations against Tien during the quarter-final encounter. “We are trying to serve quite well. In the important moments today I served well. On break points I tried to be aggressive.”

Sinner also emphasised that tactical adaptability remains essential at the top level of the sport. With each opponent presenting different challenges, the Italian noted that preparation between rounds often requires adjustments to strategy. “Every match is different. Tactically you have to play in a different way each time. Now we try to understand how to play the next match. It will be a very difficult match, very tough. But these are exactly the matches I train for. The semi-finals are already a great result.”

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Sinner spoke positively about the progress of his opponent Lerner Tien, who has emerged as one of the most promising young American players on the ATP Tour. The teenager has drawn attention this season with a series of strong performances against established opponents.

The Italian believes Tien’s development is already visible, particularly in the consistency of his groundstrokes and his improving physical level on court. Sinner suggested that the American could become a difficult opponent for many players on the tour in the coming years. “I feel like he is improving a lot. Regardless of today’s result, he is improving. The groundstrokes are getting stronger and physically he is improving a lot.”

Sinner added that Tien’s progress has been evident not only in this tournament but also in recent matches against top-level competition. For the world No. 2, the American’s trajectory will be interesting to follow as he continues to gain experience on the ATP Tour. “He is going to be a very tough player in the future to beat. He has already shown this against incredible players in the past and also recently. It will be very interesting to see how he evolves.”

With the quarter-final completed, Sinner now turns his attention to the semi-finals where he is set to face world No. 4 Alexander Zverev. The matchup between the two top contenders promises to be one of the standout encounters of the latter stages of the tournament.

Sinner acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match, noting the familiarity between the two players after numerous previous meetings on the ATP Tour. Their rivalry has produced several competitive contests in recent seasons, often decided by narrow margins. “It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well, so we will try to be as consistent as possible. For sure he will change a couple of things, so I have to be very careful.”

While the schedule of the match — whether during the day or evening session — may influence conditions, Sinner indicated that his focus remains on maintaining the highest level possible regardless of timing. “I watched a couple of his matches. He is playing great tennis," the Italian mentioned. "I try to bring the best possible tennis I can, depending also on when and what time we play. This changes the match-up a little bit, but I’m looking forward to these kinds of matches. That’s what I practice for. Semi-finals of big tournaments.”