Two-time Indian Wells champion Iga Swiatek avenged her surprising Paris Olympics loss to Zheng Qinwen with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the Chinese language eighth seed on Thursday to succeed in the semifinals within the California desert.
Swiatek, who was one of many favorites when she misplaced to eventual champion Zheng within the Olympic semifinals final yr, transformed all 5 of her break-point possibilities throughout a 94-minute match that was interrupted a number of instances to dry the court docket.
“On the finish it received actually windy which made it tremendous difficult, particularly when the situations change through the match it’s worthwhile to regulate shortly and it isn’t that straightforward,” Swiatek stated in her on-court interview.
“I’m blissful that I used to be pushing till the top. It was a bizarre match with all of the breaks and every thing however I needed to be composed and actually centered and I am glad that I did that.”
The Polish second seed got here again from 0-40 down to interrupt for a second time and a 5-1 lead within the first set, however Zheng broke proper again earlier than Swiatek lastly closed out the body on her subsequent service sport.
Within the second body, Swiatek once more got here again from 0-40 down to interrupt for a 1-0 lead and did not drop some extent over the subsequent two video games earlier than constructing a commanding 4-0 lead and holding off a late-set resurgence by Zheng.
With the win, Swiatek improved her head-to-head file towards Zheng to 7-1.
Up subsequent for reigning Indian Wells champion Swiatek, who has dropped 12 video games throughout her 4 matches right here, might be both ninth seed Mirra Andreeva or Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Within the day’s different girls’s quarterfinals, prime seed Aryna Sabalenka will kick off the night session towards Liudmila Samsonova, with the winner going through both Swiss wild card Belinda Bencic or Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
On the lads’s facet, Carlos Alcaraz will cap the night time session on the principle stadium court docket towards Francisco Cerundolo for the proper to face both Ben Shelton or Jack Draper.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev is going through Frenchman Arthur Fils, with the winner happening to face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor or Dane Holger Rune.