Indian Wells Tournament | Reunion in the semi-finals for Swiatek and Rybakina

(Indian Wells) As we meet again… the defending champion Iga Swiatek has taken the highway leading to the semi-finals in Indian Wells, where she will try to take her revenge on Elena Rybakina, who eliminated her in January at the International ‘Australia.

There will be revenge in the air on Friday in the Californian desert, where the Polish world No.1 warned her future opponent: “She is playing very well, but I will be ready. The last time we faced each other, the conditions were completely different. I will be 100%”.

The other poster of the last four will oppose the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2^e), euphoric since her first major title in Melbourne, to Maria Sakkari (7^e), finalist of the event last year.

At the time, the Greek had been powerless against Swiatek, then in full period of invincibility which lasted 37 games, from Doha in February to Wimbledon in July, with a triumph at Roland-Garros in the process.

The 21-year-old Pole, who went on to win the U.S. Open, isn’t as compelling in the first quarter of 2023, but she’s undeniably gaining momentum in Indian Wells, where she’s chasing a double only Martina Navratilova succeeded in 1991-92.

Romanian Sorana Cirstea (83^e), who had thwarted the predictions against the French Caroline Garcia (5^e) in the previous round, paid the price, swept away 6-2, 6-3 in 1 h 22. A score which could have been even more severe if she had not taken her opponent’s service once per set, to delay the deadline

“I started well in each heat and I was able to finish cleanly. I’m happy to have put a big intensity. I have the impression that I manage rather well (the fact of being defending champion, editor’s note) and that I simply play my game, “summarized Swiatek, after his 16^e victory of the season, all obtained in straight sets.

Alcaraz expected in the evening

Earlier, Elena Rybakina (10^e) was the first Kazakh to open the doors of a half in Indian Wells, with more difficulties to overcome 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-4 the Czech Karolina Muchova (76^e).

“It was a very difficult game today. I didn’t start the game very well, I was a little slower than usual. But I ended up serving much better in the third set and in the important moments, I played well, ”analyzed the 23-year-old player, winner at Wimbledon last year.

Facing Muchova, who had won their first confrontation at the United States Open in 2019, she indeed gave up a set for the first time in the tournament, after having to unbreak in the first, then erase a set point at 5- 4, to finally make the difference in the decisive game.

The Kazakh, a finalist at the Australian Open in January, regained the upper hand in the final set, managing to tighten up her game and pick up the pace. But she had to be patient, missing two match points on an opposing service, before concluding on the third with an ace, her sixth of the match, after 2:46.

Two quarter-finals for men complete the program of the day.

The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who can become world No.1 again if he wins the tournament, will face the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (10^e). The winner will meet in the last four with the American Taylor Fritz (5^e), defending champion, or the Italian Jannik Sinner (13^e) opposites in the California afternoon.