Wawrinka wins Thiem thriller to reach Indian Wells semis

Mar 16, 2017; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Stan Wawrinka (SUI) as he defeated Dominic Theim (AUT) in the quarter final match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Wawrinka won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka raised his game on the big points and dominated the climactic third-set tiebreaker to beat Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 7-6(2) on Thursday and reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Third seed Wawrinka, who six months ago beat Novak Djokovic to win the U.S. Open, won a gripping slugfest against the 23-year-old Austrian, hammering home five third-set aces including one to reach quadruple match point in the tiebreak.