Iga Swiatek is getting closer and closer to being the first female player to successfully defend the Indian Wells title…
Iga Swiatek is getting closer and closer to being the first female player to successfully defend the Indian Wells title since 1991, but faces her biggest challenge so far in Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.
The title holders of three of the four Grand Slams clash here with Rybakina’s Wimbledon crown competing with the Roland-Garros and US Open wins of Swiatek. The winner of this match could end up playing the current Australian Open champion as well with Aryna Sabalenka or Maria Sakkari waiting in the final.
Swiatek has cut down all before her in this tournament so far. Every match has been won in straight sets, though Bianca Andreescu did at least push her to a tie-break in the third round.
Rybakina has had a tougher progression, the quarterfinal match against the class of Karolina Muchova really tested Rybakina. In the end, her serve held out well and she was able to get key breaks in the final two sets to get over the line. This battle may actually stand her in good stead here.
The head-to-head record suggests that Rybakina stands a chance here though. That famous win in Australia was on faster courts than this one, but Rybakina also holds a win over Swiatek in the exhibition World Tennis League. She certainly won’t be cowed by the world #1 but I suspect that the slower surface will allow Swiatek to turn the tables on Rybakina here.
Play gets underway at around 1am GMT on Saturday morning and will be contested over the best of three sets in California.
How to watch Swiatek v Rybakina live stream
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