Favourites Swiatek, Krejcikova, Svitolina, Fernandez upset in Indian Wells

It was a day of upsets in fourth round action at the BNP Paribas Open with four big names losing. This means that all the top 9 seeds have now exited the tournament

Iga Swiatek (POL) at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

October 13, 2021

WTA 2021 BNP Paribas Open | Draw | Order of Play

It wasn’t a good day to be a higher seed on the women’s side at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells as four of the favourites were upset in fourth round action, leaving No. 10 seed Angelique Kerber as the only top 10 seed still alive. In a battle between two former French Open champion, 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko, seeded 24th, defeated 2020 champion and No 2 seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 to move into the quarter-final.

Ostapenko, known for her blistering groundstrokes, came from 1-3 behind in the second set to score her second career straight-sets win over Swiatek.

Speaking after her win as quoted by the WTA Tour, the Latvian said, “I just knew that I have a good return and was playing well in deciding moments. I just tried to serve better because it was a little bit windy and cooler today, so different conditions to my last match [on Sunday], and I needed some time to adjust.”

Oh STOP, Penko 😯@JelenaOstapenk8 | #BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/pOta9qFbHd
— wta (@WTA) October 12, 2021

Ostapenko will next meet American Shelby Rogers, who scored a thrilling third-set tiebreak win over US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez. 44th ranked Rogers scored a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) win over the 23rd seeded Fernandez in two hours and 34 minutes to continue her good run of form in recent weeks. She had also upset top-ranked Ash Barty en route to the last 16 at the US Open last month.

🆁🅴🆂🅸🅻🅸🅴🅽🆃 🔥

🇺🇸 @Shelby_Rogers_ left it all on the court and defeats Fernandez in a three set battle! 💪#BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/HYvrXRCKdp
— wta (@WTA) October 12, 2021

Krejcikova, Svitolina also bow out

Third seed Barbora Krejcikova and fourth seed Elina Svitolina was also knocked out of the tournament on Tuesday. Krejcikova, the reigning French Open champion, was defeated by 21st seed Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-5. The Spaniard will next meet either Kerber or Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.

𝔼𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕖🎱𝔹𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕

🇪🇸 @paulabadosa takes down the No. 3 seed Krejcikova in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals. This is her 3️⃣rd top 5️⃣ win of her career. 👏#BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/IbNzs0dsKh
— wta (@WTA) October 13, 2021

Meanwhile, 19th seeded Jessica Pegula was dominant in her 6-1, 6-1 win over Svitolina with the American now advancing to her seventh quarter-final of the season.

Pegula meets 27th seed Victoria Azarenka next. The former world No 1 defeated fellow Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 6-4.

WTA – BNP-PARIBAS OPEN, INDIAN WELLS – 4TH ROUND

Haddad Maia (BRA, LL) – Kontaveit (EST, N.18) : Wed.
Jabeur (TUN, N.12) – Kalinskaya (RUS, Q) : Wed.
Krejcikova (RTC, N.3) – Badosa (ESP, N.21) : Wed.
Kerber (GER N.10) – Tomljanovic (AUS) : Wed.
Azarenka (BIE, N.27) d. Sasnovich (BIE) : 6-3, 6-4
Pegula (USA, N.19) d. Svitolina (UKR, N.4) : 6-1, 6-1
Rogers (USA) d. Fernandez (CAN, N.23) : 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Ostapenko (LET, N.24) d. Swiatek (POL, N.2) : 6-4, 6-3