Iga Swiatek is continuing to set records at the BNP Paribas Open. The defending champion returned to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-3, defeat of No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen, her 10th straight match-win here.
Swiatek becomes the first player in tournament history to reach the Indian Wells semifinals in four consecutive years, and the third player to win her first four quarterfinals here following Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova. The Polish star has lost just two main-draw matches at the tournament in her career — to Jelena Ostapenko in the 2021 fourth round and to Elena Rybakina in the 2023 semifinals. (In 2019, Swiatek also lost in qualifying to Ysaline Bonaventure.)
“I think every time is a bit different,” Swiatek said when asked about the conditions. “If I’m gonna adjust well, then I’m gonna be able to use it to my advantage in terms of, I don’t know, playing more spinny with the wind so it bounces even higher.”
Swiatek improves to 7-1 overall against Zheng, avenging a heartbreaking loss in last year’s Paris Olympic Games semifinals, their most recent meeting. She advances to her third semifinal of 2025, and will face No. 9 seed Mirra Andreeva as she bids to reach her first final since Roland Garros last June. Andreeva, 17, rolled to her 10th straight win after defeating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-3 to make her second straight WTA 1000 semifinal.
© Copyrights Sixsports. All Rights Reserved.