BNP Paribas Open—Indian Wells, California
Rune Reaches 2025 Indian Wells Semifinals; Swiatek Advances to Final Four
Former world No. 4 Holger Rune continued to roll on at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California on Thursday, defeating inform Dutch player Tallon Greikspoor 5-7, 6-0, 6-3.
Needing two hours and nine minutes to reach the semifinals, Rune struck five aces, hit 32 winners, won 77 percent of his first serve points and broke his opponent on six occasions.
Owning one of the best backhands in the game, Rune will next face No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev or No. 20 seed Arthur Fils for a place in Sunday’s final.
Medvedev is a two-time finalist in Indian Wells, losing in two straight finals to Carlos Alcaraz.
No. 2 seed Alcaraz will look to continue his hot streak in Palm Springs when he faces No. 25 seed Francisco Cerundolo in the night cap today.
Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion in Palm Springs.
The day’s final quarterfinal contest will be highlighted by No. 11 seed Ben Shelton taking on No. 13 seed Jack Draper. Draper dispatched No. 3 seed and former winner Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4 in the fourth round.
Shelton ousted fellow American and No. 32 seed Brandon Nakashima 7-6(6), 6-1 to reach the final eight.
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Swiatek Untouchable in Indian Wells
Defending champion Iga Swiatek rolled into the semifinals in Indian Wells on Thursday, defeating Olympic Gold Medal winner Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-3.
Clearly benefitting from the high-bouncing surface in Palm Springs, Swiatek hit one ace, won 74 percent of her first serve points and broke her Chinese opponent on five occasions.
Hoping to be in great form as the clay-court season approaches, Swiatek will next face No. 9 seed Mirra Andreeva or No. 23 seed Elina Svitolina for a place in Sunday’s championship match.
With the victory, Swiatek improved to 7-1 against Zheng in lifetime meetings.
Matches that are still to come on Thursday will include top seed Aryna Sabalenka versus Liudmila Samsonova, and No. 5 seed Madison Keys taking on Belinda Bencic.
Keys has won 15 straight matches on Tour, and Bencic recently won the 500 level event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Friday’s action in Indian Wells will feature the women’s semifinal matches.
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