Tennis: Świątek reaches quarter-final at Indian Wells

World number one Iga Świątek continued her Indian Wells title defense with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Britain’s Emma Raducanu on Tuesday to set up a quarter-final against unseeded Sorana Cîrstea from Romania.

The Polish tennis athlete came under pressure early in the opening set but her subsequent clean gameplay execution helped her hold for a 3-2 lead after two tight service games. She raised her level further to break Raducanu in the next game before pulling away.

Off to a hot start...@iga_swiatek | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/46wwjfz18U

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 15, 2023

Having wrapped up the first set when Raducanu sent a shot long from the baseline, Świątek grabbed an early break in the second to heap the pressure on the Briton, whose unforced errors began to mount.

a step ahead 💪@iga_swiatek | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/KUYimNGpGC

— wta (@WTA) March 15, 2023

The U.S. Open champion closed out the win when Raducanu struck the net on serve in a tame end to her fine run in the Southern California desert.

Swiatek strikes ⚡️

World No.1 @iga_swiatek goes up 2-0 in her head-to-head with Raducanu. Keeps her title defense alive!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/wQh0Yh5r6b

— wta (@WTA) March 15, 2023

Świątek, bidding to become only the second female player to successfully defend the Indian Wells title after Martina Navratilova in 1990-91, raced to a 5-1 lead playing flawless tennis and running her opponent ragged.