INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Iga Swiatek obtained her BNP Paribas Open title protection off to a scorching begin within the desert, dominating Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 on Friday at Indian Wells.
Swiatek, the No. 2 seed from Poland, will subsequent face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who upset Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in straight units earlier within the day.
Elena Rybakina was sharp in her first match in Indian Wells since profitable the title in 2023, taking out Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3.
Rybakina, who was born in Russia however represents Kazakhstan, missed the match final yr due to sickness.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
She’s going to face Britain’s Katie Boulter within the third spherical after the No. 25 seed beat Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-0.
Fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula and 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva each superior in straight units underneath the lights.
Earlier within the day, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the No. 18 seed, and a pair of Czechs — No. 15 seed Karolina Muchova and Katerina Siniakova — additionally superior to the third spherical of the WTA 1000 occasion.
Elina Svitolina thanked the Indian Wells followers for supporting her tennis and her nation of Ukraine after beating American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-6 (8), 6-3.
Svitolina was cheered on by the followers regardless of enjoying an American and soaked within the applause after changing her ninth match level underneath the lights on a chilly night time within the California desert.
“I wish to thanks to your help of Ukraine,” she mentioned in an on-court interview. “It is good to get these little wins for Ukraine.”
Svitolina, seeded twenty third, will play both Danielle Collins or Hailey Baptiste within the third spherical.
A Ukrainian flag flapped within the wind above Stadium Three court docket as Svitolina was cheered on in the course of the match by her husband Gael Monfils, who performs American Sebastian Korda within the second spherical Saturday.
Svitolina has been outspoken in help of her residence nation since Russia’s invasion three years in the past.
Reuters contributed to this report.
