Defending champion Iga Swiatek put on an impressive display at Indian Wells, decisively beating Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2, while 2023 champion Elena Rybakina also advanced with a commanding 6-0, 7-5 victory over Britain’s Katie Boulter. With this win, Swiatek, who is seeded second, aims to become the first woman to clinch the title three times.
In her match against Yastremska, Swiatek showcased her dominance by claiming 10 consecutive games, wrapping up the match in just 65 minutes. Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek said, “At the end I got a bit tired, it’s always hard to finish a match like that but I’m happy that I kept my intensity up in the last game to close it.” Notably, this victory marked her second bagel set in the tournament, having earlier dismantled Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 in her first round.
The five-time major champion has faced challenges recently, including a lengthy title drought since her 2024 Roland Garros victory and regaining her world number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka after a suspension for a failed drug test. However, Swiatek is optimistic about finding her rhythm again, stating that the California desert feels like home for her.
In the next round, Swiatek is set to meet the 15th seed Karolina Muchova, who secured her place after defeating fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova.
Meanwhile, Rybakina’s path to victory was not without its challenges. Despite dominating the first set, she found herself trailing 5-3 in the second before regaining her composure to win the match. Rybakina will face either ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva or Clara Tauson in her upcoming match.
On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas demonstrated his agility and defensive skills, defeating Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-3. Daniil Medvedev, the fifth seed, advanced after his opponent Alex Michelsen was forced to retire due to illness just minutes into their match.
Marcos Giron also had a notable victory, overcoming Alexei Popyrin after a tough battle, marking his first time reaching the fourth round at this tournament.
This year’s Indian Wells is proving to be a showcase of resilience and talent, with top players demonstrating their determination to reclaim titles and establish their legacy in tennis.
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