Emma Raducanu’s revival in Indian Wells comes to a jarring halt after suffering a straight-set loss to the dominant world No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek
- Emma Raducanu’s resurgence at Indian Wells ended in the round of 16
- The Brit lost in straight sets to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-1
- Swiatek wants to be the first woman to defend the title since 1991
Emma Raducanu fell in Indian Wells as world No. 1 Iga Swiatek continued her title defense with a 6-3, 6-1 win on Tuesday.
Swiatek came under pressure early in the opening set but some clean balls helped her hold a 3-2 lead after two tight service games. She continued to level up to break Raducanu in the next game before retiring.
After ending the first set when Raducanu sent a long shot from the baseline, Swiatek paused early in the second to increase the pressure on the Brit, whose unforced errors were starting to mount.
Swiatek, who was aiming to become just the second player to successfully defend the Indian Wells title after Martina Navratilova in 1990/91, sped to a 5-1 lead with clean tennis and passed her opponent.
The US Open champion ended the win when Raducanu hit the net on serve in a tame end to her good run in the Southern California desert.
Emma Raducanu’s run at Indian Wells came to a crashing end for world No. 1 Iga Swiatek
Swiatek’s victory was assured when Raducanu hit the net on serve in a tame end to their fine run in the Southern California desert
Swiatek has now started against the unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the quarter-finals.
Raducanu, who has overcome a wrist injury and illness, was unable to build on her win over Beatriz Haddad Maia – a victory believed to be her best since her 2021 US Open triumph.
Earlier in the day, Coco Gauff bounced back after collapsing in the final set to beat Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson 6-3 1-6 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.
After winning the first set, the sixth-seeded American began struggling with her forehand in the second, and an opportunistic Peterson put the pressure on by coming into the net.
But after suffering an early break in the third set, Gauff beefed up her defense, repelling three break points to go 4-4 and broke Peterson at match point for a fourth time to secure her spot in the last eight.
Gauff, who turned 19 on Monday, was later eulogized by the crowd with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
“Today it was just a mental thing to stay in the game,” said Gauff. I didn’t do my best in some moments and didn’t serve as well as I would have liked, but I think my mentality held me up today.
Swiatek wants to be the first woman since Martina Navratilova to defend the title
Raducanu celebrated her best triumph since winning the US Open title two years ago
Next up for Gauff is a meeting with Belarusian runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, who survived a scare in the second set to beat 16th seed Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 2-6 6-4.
Sabalenka sent 11 aces into the match to secure victory and get revenge on the Czech who defeated her at the Dubai Tennis Championships last month.
Elsewhere, seventh-seeded Maria Sakkari prevailed against heavy-serving Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in a two-hour and 45-minute game to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sakkari next meets Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, seeded 15th, for a semi-final spot after the two-time Wimbledon champion was on course to a 6-2 3-6 7-6 (11) win Pegula saved four match points against the third-seeded American Jessica.
“I play for these emotions,” said Kvitova. The match was up and down, at times a disaster. I knew Jessica wouldn’t be missing, but I still had to try. I think this might be one of the best games I’ve played…’
Cirstea picked up her first top-five win since Beijing 2017 as the 32-year-old battled 6-4 4-6 7-5 against fifth seed Caroline Garcia.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 6-0 and will next face Karolina Muchova, who defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4.