Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2, is among several ATP players who have been working on their golf games while in Indian Wells. Where the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud take their time on the greens very seriously, Sinner says he uses golf primarily to unwind.

Prakash Amritraj lightly teased Sinner about his swing shortly after the Italian eased past Learner Tien in straight sets at the BNP Paribas Open:

PRAKASH AMRITRAJ: It feels like so many of the players I’m speaking to are talking about their golf game. I think you posted something in December, and the swing is looking much cleaner than the last time you posted it. Please tell me a little about Jannik Sinner’s golf journey at the moment.

JANNIK SINNER: Are you trying to embarrass me here?

PRAKASH AMRITRAJ: I’m serious! The one you posted in December looked like a really good swing.

JANNIK SINNER: Nah, nah, it’s all bad. I love to golf because you have a moment for yourself. You don’t see people. You don’t use the phone. I really like to put some music and just cruise around. That, for me, is my golf. I’m not there to compete. I don’t even have a handicap. I learned a lot with Darren. Darren is a very, very good player, and also Simone Vagnozzi. He’s getting into golf like crazy. He’s not here. He’s at home playing golf! He will join me again in Miami. But when we go, I just have fun. I love it.

Despite the off-court pastime, Sinner’s focus remained on the tournament. His groundstrokes and movement looked sharp as he defeated Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 to reach the semifinals, keeping the priority on tennis at the BNP Paribas Open.

Alexander Zverev reached a pair of milestones Thursday by beating Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells.

The victory produced the first career semifinal at Indian Wells for Zverev, a seven-time Masters 1000 champion whose previous best at the event were quarterfinal exits in 2021 and 2024. He lost those matches to Taylor Fritz in 2021 and to Carlos Alcaraz in 2024.

Beyond the tournament milestone, the win completed a rare career achievement: Zverev has now reached the semifinals or better at all nine Masters 1000 events. Indian Wells was the only Masters stop missing from his list until Thursday.

Born in 1997, Zverev is the first player born in 1990 or later (or even 1988 or later) to reach the semifinals at all nine Masters 1000 events since the series began in 1990. He becomes the fifth man to accomplish that feat, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Zverev has appeared in at least one final at seven of those nine events. He has not yet reached the final at Indian Wells or at Monte Carlo, which means he is two wins away from completing a career set of Masters 1000 finals.

Thursday’s straight-sets victory over Fils provided a clear scoreline and a historical marker for Zverev as he advances to the penultimate round at Indian Wells. The result ties together his past success across the Masters calendar with a milestone that places him alongside the sport’s most successful players in Masters-level consistency.

Joao Fonseca arrived at Indian Wells under the radar and left with momentum. The 19-year-old visited a live podcast set at the tournament’s Paradise Pavilion after a third-round victory over Tommy Paul and spent time with the hosts and a live audience before returning to the courts.

“It was a great atmosphere, both sides,” said the 19-year-old. Fonseca had been hampered early in the season, arriving in the desert with a 1-3 record. He attributed his improved form to recovering rhythm after injury. “First months of the year, I was struggling a bit with injury, and getting back with rhythm,” he said.

The unseeded Brazilian opened with a win over Raphael Collignon, then produced a dramatic upset of No. 16 seed Karen Khachanov, saving two match points en route to victory. “Those are the victories we look for on tour. Saved match points, had ups and downs, got through and fought a lot,” Fonseca told Prakash Amritraj after that match.

He followed with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Tommy Paul to set up a night match in Stadium 1 against Jannik Sinner. The scoreline shows straight sets, but the matches were tight: Fonseca pushed Sinner to two tiebreaks, losing 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4). The effort suggested he has the tools to challenge top players as he gains experience.

“I think the most different thing from, I don’t know, a Top 50 guy and a Top 10 guy is the consistency,” said Fonseca. “The level is pretty similar, but…making results every week, getting onto the court with not playing well and trying to get the win is just such a big thing.”

I’m trying to get as much experience as I can in my second year playing the big tournaments, and trying to understand how the the top players play and how to do daily. Joao Fonseca on The Big T

He also reflected on playing at last year’s Laver Cup for Team World and on watching elite players up close as part of his development, calling the experience valuable for shaping his own path.