Elina Svitolina waited out a three-hour rain delay in the Californian desert to beat fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and move into the Indian Wells quarter-finals.
The Ukrainians rallied after losing the first set, but the weather stopped play early in the third set. According to Svitolina, “I tried to play better tennis, got a little bit fired up in that second set, and got a little bit angry [about losing the first set].” Pegula began the day with a winning streak of seven matches, including a tournament title in Austin, Texas. He stated, “I’m pleased with how I was able to keep my composure even during the rain delay.” For the first time since 2019, Svitolina will play either Kazakhstan’s seventh-seeded Elena Rybakina or Russia’s ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. Iga Swiatek dominated Karolina Muchova earlier, winning 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the eighth round and continue her relentless march through the tournament. Since arriving at the event, the former world number one from Poland has only lost six games. She outplayed her Czech opponent almost flawlessly, making only four mistakes against a dozen winners and never losing a breakpoint. Swiatek, the 2022 and 2024 Indian Wells champion, acknowledged, “Honestly, sometimes matches can be pretty weird” after the 57-minute victory. It is enough for one player to not feel like they are doing their best while the other does. Then suddenly the difference is much bigger than it usually is.
It is tennis. This kind of thing is possible. I made use of my chances and opportunities. Even though it is far from simple, I can imagine that it appears to be. Swiatek is one of ten women who have won the Southern California competition twice and hopes to do so three times. Before a storm halted all action, she achieved victory in her most recent victory. “I knew this big cloud was coming, and probably I’m going to wait a little bit if I’m not going to finish,” Swiatek stated. “I wanted to finish the last two games, but it was already a little slippery. As a result, my play was a little more risky, but the shots nonetheless fell. Swiatek won the first four games despite a rain delay and did not lose a first-serve point in the first set. Muchova, who enjoyed an inspired run to the US Open semi-final last year after recovering from wrist surgery, was unable to find her level in the second set as the mistakes piled up.
Swiatek won the match in 57 minutes with an unreturnable serve. If the weather cooperates, she will play either Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China or Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk later.
