Stan Wawrinka beats Dominic Thiem to reach semi-finals in Indian Wells

By Sky Sports Tennis

Friday 17 March 2017 11:04, UK

Stan Wawrinka made it through to the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after winning an epic contest with Dominic Thiem.

The Swiss remains on course for a second ATP Masters 1000 title after coming out victorious in a thrilling contest with Dominic Thiem, which he won 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-2).

Wawrinka, who is the highest ranked player left in the tournament in Indian Wells, looks in the mood to take advantage of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic's early exits after winning a deciding tiebreak for the second game in a row, having earlier saved break points which would have seen Thiem serving for the match.

"The level was really high tonight," Wawrinka said. "I'm really happy the way I was playing, the way I found a way to win it.

"He's a strong player, really tough to play. I think in general we played both at a really high level, and the match was only one, two points."

Victory helped Wawrinka post the 450th ATP win of his career and he will now meet Pablo Carreno Busta in the last four after the Spaniard won an enduring battle with his friend and doubles partner Pablo Cuevas.

It was both men's first foray this far into a Masters 1000 tournament and it was Carreno Busta who came out on top in three sets, winning 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-4) in over two hours.

Carreno Busta had to save two match points in the final set and then triumphed in the tiebreak and he knows it was a special win.

He said in his post-match press conference: "It's an amazing feeling. It's my first time in the semi-final in a Masters 1000.

"This tournament is one of the best tournaments in the year and maybe one of the tougher, because all the people is playing here. So I think it's a really great result for me."

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