Iga Swiatek Dominates Muchova to Reach Indian Wells Quarterfinals

INDIAN WELLS, California, Mar 12, 2025 – Defending champion Iga Swiatek showcased her prowess with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Czech Karolina Muchova in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday. Swiatek’s triumph not only moves her into the quarterfinals but also continues her quest to become the first woman to win this prestigious California tournament three times.

The match was briefly interrupted by rain, delaying the start by nearly an hour. Once on the court, Swiatek needed just 57 minutes to complete her dominant performance, during which she did not face a single break point. The world number two has dropped only six games throughout the tournament, exemplifying her strong form.

“Sometimes matches can be pretty weird,” Swiatek said. “It’s enough for one player to not feel perfect and the other feel great. Then suddenly, the difference is much bigger than it usually is. I used my opportunities and stayed composed throughout the match.” Swiatek, now 23, has reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells for four consecutive years, a feat last accomplished by Karolina Pliskova from 2016 to 2019.

Swiatek’s next opponent will be eighth seed Zheng Qinwen of China, who secured her spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2. The stakes are high as Swiatek aims to fend off the emerging talent while attempting to maintain her remarkable trajectory in the tournament.

In other matches, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva advanced to the quarterfinals with their respective victories. Svitolina fought through a rain delay to beat American fourth seed Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, while ninth seed Andreeva dispatched former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 6-1, 6-2.

Meanwhile, in men’s play, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev surged into the quarterfinals with a decisive 6-4, 6-0 win over Tommy Paul. The Russian quickly established control of the match, gaining a 4-0 lead in just 12 minutes. Medvedev will now face Arthur Fils, who narrowly outlasted Marcos Giron 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

Swiatek’s quarterfinal journey continues Thursday, where she aims to extend her impressive record at the Indian Wells tournament, with a focus on her next challenging matchup against Zheng. The excitement builds as fans eagerly await her performance, hoping to witness history being crafted in the California desert.