Follow The Athletic’s coverage of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells
The quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells are complete, and it’s time for the final four to compete in California’s Coachella Valley.
Here’s a look at standout matches, key highlights tennis fans may have overlooked, and what to keep an eye on as the tournament enters its final weekend.
A Shift in the WTA Tour Rankings
Elena Rybakina’s reward for defeating Jessica Pegula 6-1, 7-6(4) on Thursday was two-fold: she advanced to the BNP Paribas Open semifinals for the first time since her 2023 title and secured a career-high ranking.
The reigning Australian Open champion will rise to world No. 2 on Monday, taking the spot from Iga Świątek, who was upset by Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in a match that frustrated Świątek, leading to heated exchanges with her team.
Svitolina and Świątek faced off with both players on impressive winning streaks. While Świątek had dominated in the California desert, Svitolina capitalized on the fast court conditions and improved her season record to 19-3. Controlling the match proved difficult for both, but Svitolina executed it better.
“There is no champion waiting for mistakes; you must set yourself up to attack,” said Svitolina, the No. 9 seed, who will next compete against Rybakina.
Rybakina displayed aggressive play against Pegula, winning 75% of her first serve points. Aryna Sabalenka will face No. 14 seed Linda Nosková in the other semifinal, keeping the possibility of a rematch from the Australian Open final alive.
— Ava Wallace
Victoria Mboko’s Progress Amidst Sabalenka’s Dominance
Aryna Sabalenka secured victory in her quarterfinal match against rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, winning 7-6(0), 6-4. For a significant portion of the match, Mboko demonstrated that she is closing in on the elite of women’s tennis.
Sabalenka won by narrowly bettering Mboko, who earned five break points—an impressive achievement against Sabalenka’s formidable service game. Sabalenka broke Mboko once from eight opportunities, but Mboko made her opponent uncomfortable with aggressive returns of serve.
“Sometimes, I was a point away from flipping the momentum in the first set,” Mboko noted after the match.
In their previous encounter at the Australian Open, Sabalenka had won in straight sets. Currently, she remains undefeated in tiebreaks over the past year.
“Big improvement,” Sabalenka remarked about Mboko’s performance, who is continuing her rapid ascent through the ranks.
— Matt Futterman
Jannik Sinner’s Strategic Mastery Over Learner Tien
Jannik Sinner’s dominant win over Learner Tien, finishing 6-1, 6-2, showcased a different style than his previous match, emphasizing angles and strategic placement over sheer power.
Sinner’s match statistics revealed his tactical expertise—he won the majority of cross-court points and effectively neutralized Tien’s aggression, boasting a defensive point win rate that exceeded his average.
With Tien struggling to land his typical offensive shots against Sinner, the young American is now 10-5 for the year and has reached the quarterfinals or better in three of five tournaments. Sinner will next face world No. 4 Alexander Zverev, who has also advanced through the draw impressively.
— Matt Futterman
A Familiar Face-Off on the Horizon?
After Daniil Medvedev’s decisive win over Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz faced Cameron Norrie, who has historically posed challenges for him. Though Norrie started strong, Alcaraz outperformed him in every aspect of the match, advancing with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulty of Norrie’s game style, noting how it complicated his shot selection. This victory sets the stage for Alcaraz and Medvedev’s third encounter at Indian Wells, with Alcaraz having won the previous two finals.
— James Hansen
Upcoming: Women’s Semifinals
🎾 Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Linda Nosková (14)
7 p.m. ET (11 p.m. UK) on Tennis Channel/Sky Sports
World No. 1 Sabalenka returns to another semifinal, showcasing her dominant performance throughout the tournament, while Nosková looks to capitalize on favorable conditions.
🎾 Elena Rybakina (3) vs. Elina Svitolina (9)
Not before 9 p.m. ET (1 a.m. Saturday) on Tennis Channel/Sky Sports
Rybakina and Svitolina are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head, with both players poised for a competitive match as they strive for a place in the final.
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