Sunday's action at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden unfolded in an unusual manner, as all eight WTA 1000 matches that day ended in straight-set victories for the favorites, without any major upsets or dramatic storylines. However, the winners of these matches have set up an exciting round of 16 in the bottom half of the draw.
Iga Swiatek continued her flawless run in California. Just as in her first match two days earlier, she dominated Dayana Yastremska, conceding only two games in a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory. This result further extends her record of bagels served at WTA 1000 tournaments to 31. Winning 80% of her first-serve points, facing no breakpoints, and handling all seven pressure points on serve with ease, the world number two delivered yet another statement performance.
Her next challenge appears much tougher on paper, as she faces Karolina Muchova. The Czech, who has started the season strongly with back-to-back semifinal runs before Indian Wells, secured a solid victory over her compatriot Katerina Siniakova, winning 7-5, 6-1. The first set was somewhat scrappy, with both players exchanging breaks. Siniakova, a renowned doubles specialist, had a chance to serve for the set at 5-4, but Muchova responded by winning nine of the next ten games, finishing the job convincingly as the pre-match favorite.
Defending Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina also made quick work of her opponent, top-ranked Brit Katie Boulter. Rybakina stormed through the opening set with a 6-0 bagel and extended her streak to seven consecutive games. While Boulter improved her serving efficiency in the second set and even had a chance to force a decider, Rybakina regrouped at the crucial moment, closing out the match 6-0, 7-5.
Next up for Rybakina is a blockbuster clash against teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva. The young Russian avenged her Dubai 1000 final loss to Clara Tauson with an even more dominant display, winning 6-3, 6-0. Andreeva allowed her opponent just six pressure points, successfully neutralizing them all while facing no breakpoints herself. This marks her eighth consecutive victory as she sets up another meeting with Rybakina, whom she defeated en route to her Dubai title. With both players in excellent form, their upcoming rematch promises to be as thrilling as their previous three-set battle in Dubai.
Jessica Pegula will face Elina Svitolina in another intriguing round-of-16 matchup. Pegula, the clear favorite against Xinyu Wang, lived up to expectations with a routine 6-2, 6-1 victory in a match that followed a straightforward script. Svitolina, however, had a much more interesting challenge against Danielle Collins. Historically, Collins had dominated their previous encounters, winning both in decisive fashion. However, this time was different. Collins, seemingly not in the same peak form she displayed in early 2024, struggled with unforced errors, allowing Svitolina to stay in control throughout the match.
Svitolina secured a 6-2, 6-4 win, though she had a chance to finish even earlier, missing a match point at 5-1 in the second set. While the final score suggests a one-sided match, deeper stats tell a different story - Collins generated 25 pressure points on Svitolina’s serve compared to facing just 12 herself. However, the Ukrainian was highly efficient, saving 76% of those pressure points and winning 67% on return, proving that while Collins created opportunities, she failed to capitalize on them. Against the more consistent and well-rounded Pegula, Svitolina will likely face a much tougher test.
Qinwen Zheng is enjoying her best tournament of 2025 so far, advancing to the round of 16 with two consecutive straight-set wins. Her first victory, against Victoria Azarenka, was arguably her best performance of the year. On Sunday, the reigning Olympic champion faced Lulu Sun in what was one of the day’s most competitive and erratic matches. The two players exchanged ten breaks across two sets before Zheng ultimately secured a 6-4, 7-5 win. Marta Kostyuk will be her next opponent, after the expected victory over wild card receiver Caroline Dolehide by 6-3 6-3.
