Defending champion Iga Swiatek beat Sorana Cristea 6-2 6-3 to return to the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Swiatek now leads 2-0 in her head-to-head matches against Cristea.
Swiatek opened up a 2-0 lead, but Cristea broke back from 40-15 down. Both players traded holds to 3-2, before Swiatek won the next eight consecutive games to build up a 6-2 4-0 lead. Cristea pulled one break back for 1-4, but Swiatek held on her break lead to close out the second set 6-3.
Swiatek has extended her winning streak at Indian Wells to ten consecutive matches.
The Polish player has become the fourth player in history to win 16 consecutive main draw matches at the Sunshine Double tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami after Steffi Graf, Serena and Venus Williams. Swiatek is bidding to become the first number 1 seed to reach the Indian Wells final since 2016.
Swiatek, who won Roland Garros and the US Open last year, set up a semifinal clash between Grand Slam champions against reigning Wimbledon champion and this year’s Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina. Swiatek and Rybakina have drawn 1-1 in their previous head-to-head series. Rybakina beat Swiatek in the fourth round of the Australian Open last January.
Rybakina overcame Karolina Muchova 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-4 after 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Muchova earned the first break to take a 3-2 lead and held on her serve to create a set point, as she was serving at 5-4. Rybakina converted her sixth break-back point with a forehand to force the match to the tie-break.
Muchova missed a forehand on serve at 4-5 in the tie-break. Rybakina won her fifth tie-break of the season, when Muchova made a double fault.
Muchova broke serve in the second game of the second set to open up a 3-0 lead. She eraned a second break to take a 6-2 lead.
Rybakina earned the decisive break in the third game of the decider when Muchova made a double fault. Muchova forced the eighth game to deuce, as Rybakina was serving at 4-3. Rybakina sealed the win with an ace down the middle on her third match point.
“It was very tough today. I didn’t start that well. I was a bit slower than usual. Karolina played very well. In important moments, I played well”,said Rybakina.
Swiatek set up a semifinal match against Elena Rybakina in a re-match of their Round of 16 clash at last January’s Australian Open, where Rybakina took a 6-4 6-4 win.
