Paolini and Samsonova Clash in High-Stakes Round of 16 at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California — Sixth seed Jasmine Paolini is set to face Liudmila Samsonova in the women’s singles fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday, March 12, 2025. This high-stakes matchup follows Paolini’s hard-fought victories, while Samsonova brings fresh momentum from her previous match.

Paolini, a 29-year-old Italian, advanced to this round after defeating World No. 79 Jacqueline Cristian 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. She has struggled this season, holding an 8-4 win-loss record but has yet to secure three consecutive wins. This 2025 season has seen Paolini eliminated early in multiple tournaments, including the Australian Open and the Doha Open. “I’m still getting back to where I was last year after my injury,” Paolini commented, referring to her challenges.

On the opposing side, 26-year-old Samsonova has demonstrated solid form, recently overcoming 12th-seed Daria Kasatkina in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Her record this year stands at 8-6, with a strong performance leading her to the semifinals at the Adelaide International earlier this year. “I feel confident in my game; every match helps me find my rhythm,” Samsonova stated, reflecting on her recent performance.

Samsonova leads their head-to-head record 2-0, having defeated Paolini in both past encounters: in the 2019 St. Petersburg qualifying round and once again at the 2023 Australian Open. “I know I can compete against her, but I need to stick to my game plan,” Samsonova added about this crucial match.

As both players prepare for their matchup, Paolini battles with her record in Indian Wells, holding an 8-4 overall but having lost in the Round of 16 last year to Anastasia Potapova in a close three-set match. Conversely, for Samsonova, this will be her second appearance in the Indian Wells fourth round, hoping to advance past the Round of 16.

The match will take place on an outdoor hardcourt at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, starting at approximately 7:10 PM ET. The tournament has a total prize money pool of $9,693,540, emphasizing the stakes involved in this encounter.

Fans can catch the match live on the Tennis Channel in the USA, Sky Sports in the UK, and TSN in Canada. With both competitors eager to secure advancement to the quarterfinals, this match promises to be a thrilling contest.