Indian Wells: Svitolina topples Swiatek as Sabalenka, Rybakina advance
The Hindu
Svitolina defeats Swiatek at Indian Wells; Sabalenka and Rybakina also advance to the semifinals in thrilling matches.
Elina Svitolina sent two-time champion Iga Swiatek spinning out at Indian Wells on Thursday (March 12, 2026) to line up a semifinal meeting with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
Ninth-ranked Ukrainian Svitolina surged home to beat world number two Swiatek 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 while Rybakina thwarted Jessica Pegula’s comeback bid in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the fifth-ranked American.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid for a first title in the prestigious ATP and WTA Masters 1000 event on track, holding off Canadian teen Victoria Mboko 7-6 (7/0), 6-4.
The Belarusian star will face 14th-ranked Czech Linda Noskova, who ended the fairytale run of Australian qualifier Talia Gibson 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Svitolina’s aggressive attack was too much for Swiatek, who coughed up eight double faults and looked out-of-sorts in the early going.
The experienced Svitolina made the most of the early chances she was given then held her nerve in a tense third set.
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