By Tony Fairbairn
- Defending champion Elena Rybakina looks to regain momentum against strong field that includes world number one Iga Swiatek.
- Top Seeds: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina
- British Interest: Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu [WC]
INDIAN WELLS, USA – After a positive start to the season, Elena Rybakina will look to regain her form in California as she looks to defend the Indian Wells title.
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[1] Iga Swiatek
Best Result: Champion (2022)
Swiatek has picked up her form since a disappointing exit at the Australian Open and the world number one will look to continue that momentum at Indian Wells.
Swiatek’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Danielle Collins | H2H: Swiatek leads 5-1
- R3: Linda Noskova [26] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R4: Ekaterina Alexandrova [15] | H2H: Swiatek leads 3-1
- QF: Ons Jabeur [6] | H2H: Swiatek leads 5-2
- SF: Elena Rybakina [4] | H2H: Rybakina leads 3-2
- F: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Swiatek leads 6-3
The world number one will have to defeat opponents who have haunted her in the past if Swiatek wants to go deep in California. Danielle Collins and Linda Noskova have both beaten Swiatek at the Australian Open in recent years and will look to be a threat in California. The Pole may also have to overcome Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals before renewing her rivalry with Elena Rybakina in a rematch from their semi-final clash last year. This is a tough draw for Swiatek but given her current confidence, one she will back herself to come through as she looks to win a second Indian Wells title.
[2] Aryna Sabalenka
Best Results: Final (2023)
After an early exit in Dubai, Sabalenka is looking to get back on track as she looks to go one better than she did last year and claim her first title at Indian Wells.
Sabalenka’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Elisabetta Cocciaretto | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Dayana Yastremska [30] | H2H: Yastremska leads 3-0
- R4: Elina Svitolina [16] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 2-1
- QF: Jessica Pegula [5] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 4-2
- SF: Coco Gauff [3] | H2H: Gauff leads 4-3
- F: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Swiatek leads 6-3
A potential third round clash against Dayana Yastremska could be Sabalenka’s biggest test en route to a semi-final meeting with Coco Gauff as the world number two has lost her previous three meetings to the Ukrainian. Overall it is a comfortable draw for Sabalenka who will fancy her chances to go all the way in California especially if she can replicate her form from her Australian Open triumph.
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[3] Coco Gauff
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2023)
Gauff is unbeaten in her last 16 matches in America and will look to continue that run in California as she aims to capitalise on a good start to the season.
Gauff’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Clara Burel | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Anhelina Kalinina [32] | H2H: Gauff leads 1-0
- R4: Liudmila Samsonova [14] | H2H: Gauff leads 3-0
- QF: Qinwen Zheng [8] | H2H: First Meeting
- SF: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Gauff leads 4-3
- F: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Swiatek leads 9-1
Gauff has a favourable draw in California but will need to be aware of players such as Naomi Osaka, Daria Kasatkina, Victoria Azarenka and Sorana Cirstea on her way to the semi-finals. The American will fancy her chances of extending her unbeaten streak in America as she looks for a fourth consecutive title on home soil following her titles at Washington, Cincinnati and the US Open.
[4] Elena Rybakina
Best Result: Champion (2023)
Rybakina will look to continue her fine start to the season as she aims to defend her Indian Wells title.
Rybakina’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Ashlyn Krueger | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Anastasia Potapova [28] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R4: Jasmine Paolini [13] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- QF: Marketa Vondrousova [7] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- SF: Iga Swiatek [1] | H2H: Rybakina leads 3-2
- F: Aryna Sabalenka [2] | H2H: Sabalenka leads 5-3
Rybakina has a nice start to the defence of her title but will be tested in the last 16 when she plays Jasmine Paolini, who defeated the Kazakh in Dubai. Apart from that tricky fourth round match, Rybakina will feel confident to reach the semi-finals at minimum where she could face the two players she defeated in the last two rounds last year to win the Indian Wells title. Either way it should be a competitive women’s tournament and one Rybakina will thrive in especially as she enters this tournament under the radar.
Indian Wells starts on Wednesday 6th of March and concludes on Sunday 17th of March.
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