INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The BNP Paribas Open is down to its Final Four. For two women, this is well-tread ground. For the other two, uncharted territory.
Who will punch their ticket into Championship Sunday?
World No.1 Iga Swiatek knows what it feels like to lift the Baccarat trophy in Indian Wells, having done so in 2022. Her vanquished opponent that day? No.9 Maria Sakkari. The two have been the most dominant forces in Indian Wells the last three years. Each are set to play their third straight semifinals in the desert.
In contrast, No.3 and US Open champion Coco Gauff, 20, and No.32 Marta Kostyuk, 21, have gone deeper than they ever have here.
Here’s a closer look at the semifinal matchups, which will kick off at 4:00 p.m. PDT.
The case for Swiatek
Swiatek’s consistent success in the California desert further proves that Indian Wells is the clay-courter’s hard court. Into her third straight semifinal here, the 22-year-old hasn’t come close to losing a set.
Her set scores? 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0, with that last one coming by Caroline Wozniacki’s retirement in the quarterfinals. It’s the fewest number of games dropped by a player en route to the semifinals since Jelena Jankovic in 2008. And she’s won at least six consecutive games in every match she’s played.
Not much has bothered Swiatek this year and she’s been playing her tennis with incredible clarity. She’s handled the big hitters like Danielle Collins and Linda Noskova, both of whom took her to three sets at the Australian Open — and Noskova knocking her out — and she’s managed the grinders as well, with wins over Yulia Putintseva and Wozniacki.
That’s the perfect preparation for Kostyuk, who has the court craft and weapons to do both. Swiatek is 1-0 against the Ukrainian. This is their first meeting on hard court. A win would be Swiatek’s 19th win of the year, which would be the most on tour.
The case for Kostyuk
Despite her outstanding results this season — Australian Open quarterfinalist, San Diego finalist, Adelaide quarterfinalist — Kostyuk still can’t believe she’s made her first WTA 1000 semifinal this week. She was sick during the Middle East swing and came up short in an emotional and grueling week in San Diego. She’s happy she can still surprise herself.
