BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, CA, 2026 - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

4 games all 2nd set
Iga to serve

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Lack of 1st serves from Elina and Iga breaks and wins the 2nd set 64
Going 3

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elina breaks Iga and will serve for the match 5-4

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done Svitolina defeating Swiatek 62 46 64 into the SF playing the winner of Pegula v Rybakina match which has just started

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Rybakina dominates the first set, winning 6-1. With a win, Rybakina will pass Swiatek for #2 in the WTA rankings.

 

[Murat B.]

I can't remember all the details, but they had a bad falling out. She even unfriended him on social media. I don't think she can go back to him. She'll have to incorporate some changes w/ her new team. Movement is one, she needs to be more solid on serve and I'm not entirely convinced her fitness is on par. She has the tendency to bail out of points early and go for a risky shot. She can get away w/ it against lower ranked players, but when she faces anyone who really knows how to play, her rally tolerance gets tested, she panics and bails.

I agree Osaka really should implement some changes. Changing sports for example . I hear pickleball is popular these days. Or bocce. You can play it indoors AND outdoors, just like tennis. Imagine that !

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I agree Osaka really should implement some changes. Changing sports for example . I hear pickleball is popular these days. Or bocce. You can play it indoors AND outdoors, just like tennis. Imagine that !

Lol Murat

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina will serve to force a TB in the 2nd set 5-6

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

6 games all
TB 2nd set Pegula v Rybakina

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina d Pegula 61 76(4) first time in the SF at IW
Rybakina will play Svitolina in the SF
Rybakina defeating Pegula she now is the new No 2 ranked player, surpassing Swiatek

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results of the QFs
Thursday 12th March,
Seeds through,
Sabalenka (1) Rybakina (3) Svitolina (9) Noskova (14)

Seeds that lost
Swiatek (2) Mboko (10) Pegula (5)

Siniakova/Towsend are into the Ladies Doubles final with a dominant win 62 62 over the Top seeds Errani/Paolini 62 62 they will play No 5 seeds Danilina/Krunic. No sign of Siniakova's hip injury.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ladies SFs
Friday 13th March,
Starting at 4pm local time,
Sabalenka (1) vs Noskova (14) Sablenka leads their H2H 1-0

Not before 6pm local time
Rybakina (3) vs Svitolina (9) Tied at 3 all, most recent match Madrid April 2025 clay, Svitolina won in straight sets

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just want to make an observation on today QF match Swiatek v Svitolina, which Svitolina won in 3 sets and deserved her victory, Elina had a higher shot rally tolerance,, Iga is not going to win these types of matches 'ball bashing'
I think it is time for Iga to get rid of her sports psychologist coach who travels with Iga since 2019 when Iga was 17
Iga had a melt down when Elina broke her in the 3rd set and went onto win the match, started yelling at her, I feel Daria has too much say in their matches vocally, she is not the coach, Wim Fissette is, and it is time for Iga to let her go, she has been on the tour now for many years and dosent need a full time sports psychologist to be with her 24/7. I know a lot of players have sports psychologist's they can go to or phone, about time Iga did the same thing.Iga hates to lose, was a short shift handshake at the net.

 

[britbox]

QF Video Highlights

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Aryna and Linda are doing their warm up
Saba will serve first.
Saba gets the early break, so far her serve as been on 'song',Linda is playing well, though if her ball lands short near the baseline corners, Saba is returning it with ease
Saba 3-1 and converts her break
Saba 4-1
Saba breaks again, Linda is pressing too much on her ground shots at present, fhand wide
Saba will serve for the 1st set 5-1
A very nervous fhand from Saba and Linda breaks her serving for the 1st set at 5-1
Linda saved some SP really going for her 1st serve, actually she has won more points on her 2nd serve so far in this match
Saba will again serve for the match at 5-3
Saba with an Ace to take the 1st set 63

 

[Murat B.]

I find grunting and screaming very annoying . Number one reason, they are mostly fake. I have watched training sessions of major screamers , going full tilt and not making a peep during training but going full orgasmic in matches with half the effort. Having said that, I find the low , man-like guttural sounds Sabalenka makes especially when she misses something or a ball skids off the line , quite amusing.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I find grunting and screaming very annoying . Number one reason, they are mostly fake. I have watched training sessions of major screamers , going full tilt and not making a peep during training but going full orgasmic in matches with half the effort. Having said that, I find the low , man-like guttural sounds Sabalenka makes especially when she misses something or a ball skids off the line , quite amusing.

I find Saba's screaming /grunting louder when I watch her on TV I usually mute her, and other players I found too loud
When I was at the AO this year, watching Saba live I wasnt bothered and my hearing remained intact
I watched Sharapova in practice she didnt scream at all, though in matches she was bad
The worst was Seles Meh!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba gets the early break in the 2nd set, Linda again over pressing, Linda should use the body serve more often on Saba
Saba with her 8th ace and consolidates the break and leads 2-0
Saba leads 3-1
Linda saving BPs and a lovely fhand winner
Saba leads 3-2
Saba 4-2, Linda's shots are too short and Saba is returning them easily
A lovely disguise on a drop shot from Linda great hands she holds serve more easily that time
Saba 4-3
Saba 5-3 Linda had her chances in that service game, Saba buckled down and again her serve came to the rescue
Good service game from Linda, she has kept close to Saba especially in this 2nd set, times she was too passive and her ground shots too short.
Saba will serve for the match 5-4 and a place in the final
'On her 3rd MP Saba d Noskova 63 64 could it be 3rd time lucky for Saba in the final as she has yet to win it, return to the finals for the 3rd time in 4 years, also she has yet to drop a set en route to the final
Well done Linda, some positive play from you in the SF
Saba W 37 UFE 21 11 Aces, Linda 14 W 23 UFE 5 Aces

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Next SF is Rybakina v Svitolina
A very tight first set
Rybakina broke and will serve for the 1st set 6-5
It has been about the serve from Rybakina, her coach Vukov is non stop talking
Rybakina 1st set 75, a very tight 1st set of tennis

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena misses a easy overhead unusual she is usually good at those
Elena breaks as Elina fhand long
Elena consolidates her break, great to have a serve like Rybakina
Elena leads 2-0
Elina needed to serve well in this match, she is at 50%, she is trying to go for more, though it has often ended in a DF or Elena has returned it well. I dont know why Elina dosent body serve Elena?
A double break now for Elena she leads 3-0
Elena consolidates and leads 4-0
Elina finally gets on the board in the 2nd set
Elena 4-1
Elina with 2 BPs, Elina should have moved in on that 2nd serve from Elena
Elena saves 2 BPs
Elina has another BP, though once again Elena finds a great 1st serve to save BP
Elena hitting her way out of trouble
Elena 5-1 lead
MP for Rybakina, Elina saves MP
Rybakina will now serve for the match and a place in the final 5-2
Rybakina tight trying to close out the match her fhand has gone AWOL
Rybakina saves a BP and finds her bhand for a winner
Svitolina with a great fhand return another BP
Thats another bhand slice winner from Rybakina to serve the BP
What a bhand winner with power from Svitolina another BP
Rybakina finds her fhand for a winner
Svitolina finds another great fhand return
Credit to Svitolina and she breaks the serve of Rybakina serving for the match
Svitolina with some momentum now
Rybakina gets another chance to serve out the match at 5-4
Rybakina d Svitolina 75 64 to win her place in the final
Well done Svitolina for the great fight you showed tonight, it was your serve in big points that let you down in this match
Rybakina W 35 UFE 41 BPs 4/11 Svitolina W 17 UFE 27 BPs 2/9
Rybakina will play Sabalenka in the final on Sunday