The second round of Indian Wells proved to be a smooth ride for the tournament’s top contenders. Unlike the previous two WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, this time, the top seeds delivered in their first appearances after receiving byes in the opening round. All top 10 seeds have advanced to the third round, with most securing comfortable straight-set victories over lower-ranked opponents.

Swiatek Sets Another Record

Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run in the desert, kicking off her 2025 campaign with a commanding victory over Caroline Garcia. The reigning champion left no room for the French veteran, winning 6-0, 6-2. Swiatek achieved a remarkable milestone - her first-set bagel marked her 30th 6-0 set win at the WTA 1000 level, setting a new record.

This performance echoes her unstoppable run at Indian Wells last year. As the competition intensifies, it remains to be seen whether the change in court conditions at Indian Wells Tennis Garden will pose any challenge to her quest for a first title since last year’s Roland Garros.

Next, she will face Dayana Yastremska, who delivered a surprisingly dominant win over Ons Jabeur. This was one of the most anticipated second-round matchups, as both players ranked among the best performers in the final quarter of the draw. Despite Jabeur’s consistent results this season, including multiple quarterfinal appearances, she managed to win only four games against the aggressive Ukrainian. Yastremska was particularly ruthless on return, winning 78% of second-serve return points and breaking Jabeur six times out of eight service games.

However, she faces an uphill battle against Swiatek, especially considering their last meeting in Dubai. Yastremska put up a fight in the first set there, but Swiatek took complete control as the match progressed, closing it out with another bagel - the 29th of her now record-setting 30.

Keys’ Comeback Highlights a Confident Start for Favorites

Madison Keys’ first match as a Grand Slam champion, following her Australian Open triumph and a brief break, was one of the weekend’s standout moments. Her draw against Anastasia Potapova was far from easy, given Potapova’s ability to trouble top players. While Keys was the pre-match favorite, the cautious odds (1.40) reflected the challenge ahead.

However, she delivered a statement performance, showing no signs of rust. Her serve remained as formidable as it was in Australia, and she excelled on return - winning an impressive 63% of first-serve return points and converting six out of eight break opportunities. The final scoreline, 6-3, 6-0, was a crushing display of dominance.

Keys will next face Elise Mertens, who has enjoyed a solid season so far, highlighted by a WTA 250 title in Singapore last month.

Sabalenka’s Serving Perfection

Aryna Sabalenka showcased her serving prowess in her second-round clash against Mccartney Kessler. The American, who has been on a strong run this season, was expected to be a tricky opponent, and the match proved competitive. Sabalenka won 7-6(4), 6-3, but despite the close scoreline, she never allowed Kessler a real chance to break her.

Winning an outstanding 86% of her first-serve points, Sabalenka didn’t face a single breakpoint throughout the match. Kessler also served well, allowing just 10 pressure points overall, but losing five of them proved costly. Sabalenka's clinical execution in crucial moments ensured her victory.

Bencic Triumphs in the Battle of Recent Champions

The second-round clash between Belinda Bencic and Amanda Anisimova was one of the most anticipated matchups, as the winners of the two most recent WTA 1000 events (Doha and Dubai) faced off. Bencic, currently ranked lower than her form suggests, was a slight favorite.

The match was high-quality from the start, with the two splitting two tightly contested sets that lasted nearly two hours. Anisimova played an excellent second-set tiebreak, delivering spectacular winners, but her level unexpectedly dropped in the decider. Bencic took full advantage, dominating the final set to win 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1.

Post-match statistics reflected the intensity of the encounter. Anisimova, the bigger hitter, recorded an impressive 39 winners to 29 unforced errors. Bencic played a more composed game, hitting 13 winners and committing only eight unforced errors over three sets.

Gauff Ends Losing Streak

Coco Gauff fought hard to end her three-match losing streak, securing her first win since the Australian Open in a grueling battle against Moyuka Uchijima. Despite being the clear favorite, Gauff was pushed to the limit, eventually prevailing in a decisive third-set tiebreak.

After comfortably winning the first set, Gauff appeared in control of the decider, racing to a 4-0 lead. However, a string of unforced errors allowed Uchijima to claw her way back, forcing a tiebreak. Gauff managed to regroup just in time, closing out the match after 2 hours and 30 minutes. While the victory was never in serious jeopardy, grinding through such a tough battle could help rebuild her confidence.

Next up, she will face Maria Sakkari, last year’s Indian Wells runner-up. Sakkari, like Gauff, ended a three-match losing streak with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 win over Viktoriya Tomova. However, Sakkari is under pressure, as she risks a significant rankings drop after defending runner-up points from last year. Currently projected to fall to No. 50 in the live rankings, she will be the underdog against Gauff in their third-round clash.

Navarro’s Stunning Comeback

Emma Navarro came closest among the top 10 seeds to an early exit, pulling off a remarkable comeback against Sorana Cirstea. The Romanian, enjoying a strong season with quarterfinal runs in Dubai and Austin, proved to be a dangerous early opponent.

Cirstea took the opening set and led 4-1 in the decider. She even served for the match at 5-3, holding two match points at 40-15. However, Navarro staged an incredible turnaround, winning four consecutive points to break back and force a decisive tiebreak. She took control in the final moments, securing a hard-fought 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory.

Sun Produces the Biggest Upset

The biggest surprise of the round came from Lulu Sun, who upset Linda Noskova 6-1, 6-4. Sun had endured a disastrous start to the season, winning just one match across eight tournaments before Indian Wells. However, the Californian event has provided a much-needed resurgence.

Rated as a heavy underdog in both her matches, Sun first edged out Rebecca Sramkova in a final-set tiebreak (pre-match odds: 3.47). Against Noskova, who had been in excellent form with quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sun was given a long-shot 6.73 average pre-match odd.

Yet, Noskova struggled badly, serving at just 48% accuracy with seven double faults. Sun, by contrast, remained composed, facing only two breakpoints and holding serve throughout the match, sealing the biggest upset of the round.