Indian Wells 2023: Swiatek vs Rybakina Prediction, Odds & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Indian Wells semifinal match featuring Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina Match Preview

Iga Swiatek remains as resolute and unbeatable as ever after dishing out another straight-sets win in her quarterfinal match at Indian Wells. But she faces an in-form Elena Rybakina in a rematch of this year’s Australian Open fourth round which the Kazakh won 6-4 6-4. Is lightning about to strike twice on the Polish World No. 1?

Iga Swiatek showed her dominance once again in a straight-sets dismissal of surprise quarterfinalist Sorana Cirstea. She won 6-2 6-3 in 82 minutes. The Romanian gave a good account of herself in the match. She broke Swiatek’s serve twice in the contest, but could not quite neutralize Swiatek’s aggression behind the return. The Pole broke Cirstea five times from eight chances. Swiatek could become just the second woman in history to defend the Indian Wells title if she picks up two more wins at the tournament.

Elena Rybakina, meanwhile, survived a highly entertaining quarterfinal against Karolina Muchova to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal at Indian Wells. Muchova served for the opening set at 5-4 and held set point. However, Rybakina did not cave in and broke back. The Kazakh went on to bag the first set in a tiebreak in over an hour. Muchova rallied to win the next set 6-2, but playing with heavy strapping on her thigh was an indication the Czech would struggle with her movement down the stretch. Rybakina got the crucial break in the third set to pull away.

Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina Prediction and Pick

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head. Swiatek won their first career meeting in Ostrava in 2021 in straight sets. But it was Rybakina who pulled off a major shock at this year’s Australian Open by ousting the much-fancied Pole in the round of 16. The odds are stacked against the Kazakh in this one. Swiatek has raised her game to stratospheric new levels. Rybakina has the power and precision in her artillery to go toe to toe with the World No. 1. She is one of the very few players who can take the game out of Swiatek’s racket purely from her baseline aggression. But the Kazakh has not had it plain sailing in Indian Wells despite only dropping one set at the event thus far. She has played three tiebreak sets, and narrowly escaped in the second set against Paula Badosa. Another slow start by the Kazakh could prove costly as Swiatek tends to be an early pacesetter. Back the Pole to take this latest meeting in straight sets.