Frances Tiafoe halts Cameron Norrie’s winning run

Norrie's excellent start to 2023 had seen him claim title success in Rio last month and make finals at Auckland and Buenos Aires.

The world number 12 also won this tournament 18 months ago but saw his run in California end in the last eight after US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe clinched a hard-fought 6-4 6-4 victory.

A cagey opener saw the score stay on serve until Tiafoe claimed a decisive break in the seventh service game and he took the first set in 53 minutes.

Breaks were traded at the beginning of the second but American Tiafoe appeared to take control when he moved 5-2 ahead.

Norrie, in trademark fashion, was not about to throw in the towel and broke back and forced his opponent to serve out for a place in the semi-finals.

Tiafoe made no mistake at the second time of asking to win the second meeting between the pair and progress without dropping a set so far.

"I am really happy, I feel like when I am there mentally, I am one of the best players in the world," Tiafoe said, as per atptour.com.

"Today it is not just about getting to the semis, I am happy to beat a guy like that, who has been playing so well. To be able to come out here and beat him in straight sets, is relatively comfortable. At the end, it got a little tricky, but it was pretty one-way traffic and I am really happy with where my game is at.

"I am able to take the racquet out of players hands. I am crafty, I can move. I stay in the points and don't give away too many free points. I have grown as a player tremendously and it is showing. I am really happy with my progress."