• Carlos Alcaraz aiming to follow in footsteps of Rafa Nadal.
• Win on Thursday moved him closer to the Indian Wells title.
• He will face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

Carlos Alcaraz wants to follow in the footsteps of Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic by winning titles immediately after returning from injury, and his win over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday moved him closer to the Indian Wells title.

Alcaraz had been out for more than three months due to abdominal and hamstring injuries, but he made a triumphant return last month in Buenos Aires.

On Thursday, the Spaniard defeated Canadian Auger-Aliassime to reach the final four of Indian Wells, just weeks after withdrawing from an ATP 500 event in Acapulco due to a strained hamstring.

“I look to the big players, Djokovic or Rafa, when they are coming from an injury and probably they have a great percentage to win the tournament after an injury,” the 19-year-old told reporters.

“I looked at them a little bit when I was injured, you know, training. They motivated me to play a good game after an injury in the first tournaments.

“I was surprised when I won Buenos Aires, but right now, I’m not surprised at it.”

Alcaraz will face Jannik Sinner just over six months after defeating the Italian in the U.S. Open quarter-finals on his way to his first Grand Slam title.

“I enjoyed that match, because I had to be really, really focused in every shot. I had to play my best,” Alcaraz said.

“That’s why Jannik is such a great player. Not only with great serve, great movements, it is because he pushes the opponent to the limit. Tries to play aggressive with great shots.

“For the opponent it is really tough to be focused mentally and physically during the whole match. That’s what I love playing against him, that it pushes me to the limit.”

The other semi-final spots were decided on Wednesday, when Daniil Medvedev beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain to set up a clash with American Frances Tiafoe, who is chasing his fourth straight ATP title after victories in Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai.

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