Carlos Alcaraz feels he played one of his best matches of the season after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells. The Spaniard had the first opportunity at 30-40 in the fifth game to break the Canadian’s serve but the latter was able to save it.

At deuce, Alcaraz probably played the point of the season so far as he didn’t give up and once again earned a break point, which this time he was able to convert.

The Spaniard was delighted with his play and felt he played at his best to get the desired result. In fact, Alcaraz had lost the previous three meetings against the Canadian but he was able to break the deadlock.

“Today, the goal was to stay there,” Alcaraz said, noting that he faded in the final set of their Basel meeting last October. “I knew that I was going to have my chances. [I had to] try to take it. Probably I played one of my best matches this season, in 2023. I’m really happy and [want to] keep going.”

Alcaraz also made great use of the drop shot as he flummoxed his opponent to come out as a winner. The Spaniard was proud that he broke Felix for the first time on the tour.

“This is the first time I broke his serve and I’m really proud of that,” said Alcaraz, who praised his opponent’s big first serve. “I tried to attack the second serve, tried to dominate the points, tried to play from the baseline and tried to be aggressive, taking the opportunity when he is serving the second serve.”

The youngster will play in the semifinal against Jannik Sinner, who defeated reigning champion Taylor Fritz in the quarters.

“I’m really happy to play against him again. Great battles,” Alcaraz previewed. “I enjoy the matches against him. I would say it’s going to be a really good match, for the fans as well, to watch that match. And for myself as well. I will try to show my best, to show my 100 percent. Jannik is playing great. I’m going to enjoy that match.”

Sinner and Alcaraz have a 2-2 ATP H2H record against each other.