Alcaraz led Norrie in their head-to-head going into the match, 5-3, but had lost three of their last five encounters—including their most recent one at the last Masters 1000 event in Paris, last fall.
But Alcaraz got his revenge against the 2021 Indian Wells champion this time, rolling through the first set in exactly half an hour and then bouncing back from an early 2-0 deficit to close it out in straight sets.
Norrie provided some resistance at the end, fighting off two match points in his 3-5 service game and then another one when Alcaraz served for it at 5-4, but the Spaniard closed it out on his fourth.
“It was really difficult to be honest,” he said in his on-court interview.
“I mean, I struggle a lot with his style. Every time I play against him it’s really tough for me. I’m trying to play my best, and it’s always a little bit of a confusing style—that forehand’s super top spin, making it super high, and then with the backhand really flat and really low.
“But tonight I played well, I played solid, I played aggressive when I could do it. I’m happy to play this level, but Cam should be proud.”
Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz in the semifinals will be No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-1, 7-5 winner earlier in the night session against No. 14 seed and defending champion Jack Draper.
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head with Medvedev, 6-2, winning their last four meetings in a row (and nine of their last 10 sets).
