By Ros Satar
- Katie Swan [Q] v Cristina Bucsa [Q]
- H2H: Swan leads 2-0 (ITF)
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – Katie Swan gets her first main draw action of the year and makes her BNP Paribas Open debut.
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Katie Swan [Q] v Cristina Bucsa [Q] | H2H & Match Fundamentals
Katie Swan continues to make some solid progress this year, after starting the year as part of the GB United Cup team gaining a couple of wins in the process. She faces Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.
| Katie Swan [Q] v Cristina Bucsa [Q] | H2H: Swan leads 2-0 (ITF) |
| WTA Indian Wells | California, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $18,660 |
| Second on Stadium 8, not before 12:30pm (8:30pm GMT) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Hard Court 2023)
| H2H: | Katie Swan (WR 156) | Cristina Bucsa (WR 90) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 38.5 | 41.7 |
| Return Points Won % | 45.0 | 46.3 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 57.1 | 47.3 |
| Break Points Saved % | 66.7 | 60.5 |
| Total Points Won % | 51.2 | 50.9 |
At first glance, especially with Bucsa’s run through Australian Open qualifying to the third round, you would think that the odds are stacked against Swan. She is less effective on her return games than the Spaniard, but this year she has come through clutch moments more in terms of taking her break point chances and fending off those against her.
Playing Styles & Prediction
It has been a while since Swan scored her two wins over Bucsa in the ITF ranks, back in 2015 and 2018. Bucsa’s star has been on the rise, and her start to the year has been more impressive, but there is a hope that Swan could use Indian Wells as a breakthrough point, much in the way that it propelled Harriet Dart upwards.
There is no doubt to that Swan will have to be a lot sharper in her return games and try and capitalise on usually solid serving to keep in contention.
Prediction: Bucsa in three sets.
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