Elina Svitolina overcame a three-hour rain delay and a tough start to defeat fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, securing a spot in the Indian Wells quarter-finals. After dropping the first set, the Ukrainian found her rhythm and dominated the second before the weather interrupted play early in the third. Despite the disruption, she maintained her composure and finished strong.
Reflecting on her performance, Svitolina acknowledged the frustration of losing the opening set but channeled that energy into improving her game. Her determination paid off as she capitalized on Pegula’s errors and dictated play in the final two sets. Pegula had entered the match on a seven-match winning streak, which included a tournament title in Austin, Texas. However, she struggled to regain control after the rain delay and was ultimately overpowered.
For Svitolina, this marks her first quarter-final appearance at Indian Wells since 2019. She now awaits a showdown with either seventh-seeded Elena Rybakina or ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, both of whom have shown strong form in the tournament.
Earlier in the day, Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant performance, defeating Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 to secure her place in the last eight. Swiatek has been nearly flawless throughout the tournament, dropping just six games since her arrival. Her efficient play against Muchova highlighted her precision and confidence, as she committed only four errors while hitting a dozen winners. The former world No. 1 never faced a break point, further emphasizing her control over the match.
Swiatek, a two-time Indian Wells champion, is aiming to become the first woman to win the tournament three times. She managed to complete her match before the rainstorm disrupted play, a factor she was aware of as she pushed to finish quickly.
Anticipating the incoming weather, Swiatek remained aggressive, particularly in the final two games, ensuring she maintained momentum before conditions worsened. She sprinted through the opening four games and did not drop a single point on her first serve in the first set. In the second, Muchova, who made a deep run at the US Open last year after recovering from wrist surgery, struggled with consistency and committed numerous unforced errors.
Swiatek sealed the victory in just 57 minutes, closing the match with an unreturnable serve. She now advances to face either Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen or Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, depending on the outcome of their match, which was also affected by the rain delay.
