Indian Wells: Tough draw for defending champion Swiatek; Gauff could play Raducanu
The Pole could have to beat Caroline Garcia, Ons Jabeur and Karolina Muchova just to make the last eight
Zuma / Psnewz
Iga Swiatek goes into this week’s BNP Paribas Open looking to rediscover top form in a place she loves, having won the title in 2022 and again last year.
But the Pole will need to hit the ground running after being given a tough draw in Indian Wells.
World No 2 Swiatek is in the same half as fourth seed Jessica Pegula – fresh from another title – and No 7 Elena Rybakina, each of whom are potential semi-final opponents.
But things could get tricky well before then. France’s Caroline Garcia could be waiting in round two – Swiatek has a bye in round one – while she could then have to face Ons Jabeur in round three, Karolina Muchova in the fourth round and Qinwen Zheng in the quarters.
Full women’s singles draw
Gauff could face Raducanu in opener
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka looks to have a straightforward passage through to the latter stages. The world No 1 is also looking to bounce back, having lost early in Qatar and Dubai after missing out on a third straight Australian Open title, beaten in the final by an inspired Madison Keys.
Sabalenka is in the same half as Coco Gauff but the American could have a tough opener, with Emma Raducanu, a fellow former US Open champion, a possible second-round opponent.
Keys, back in action for the first time since Melbourne, opens against either Anastasia Potapova of Russia or Jessica Bouzas-Maneiro of Spain.
The women’s event begins on Wednesday.
