World number 1 Iga Swiatek reached her third consecutive semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Swiatek was leading 6-4 1-0 before Caroline Wozniacki withdrew from the quarter final match due to a right foot injury. Swiatek and Wozniacki played a match between two Grand Slam champions.
Swiatek came back from one set down to beat Wozniacki in their only previous head-to-head match in Toronto in 2019 when Wozniacki was ranked world number 18 and Swiatek number 65.
Wozniacki, who was playing her first WTA quarter final in four years, saved three break points in her first service game. Wozniacki broke serve in the fourth game with a strong angled return to open up a 3-1 lead. The Danish player held serve for 4-1. Swiatek pulled one break back two games later for 3-4. The Polish player converted her fourth in a long ninth game to take a 5-4 lead.
Swiatek held serve to win her fifth straight game with an ace. The Polish player served out the first set at 30 before Wozniaki retired from the match after the first game of the second set after 65 minutes.
Swiatek will face number 31 seed Marta Kostyuk, who beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0 7-5 to reach the first WTA 1000 semifinal of her career. Kostyuk broke three times to take a bagel win in the first set. Kostyuk built up a 6-0 3-0 lead in the second set. Potapova broke back in the fifth game for 2-3. Both players traded breaks twice to draw level to 5-5.
Kostyuk sealed the win with a break on her second match point in the 12th game.
“I practiced with with Swiatek in Doha. I was really looking forward to actually playing her in her match. I think it will be a great match”, said Kostyuk.
Swiatek beat Kostyuk 6-3 6-4 in the Round of 16 at 2021 Roland Garros.
