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
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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 or in-form Paula Badosa in the quarters.
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.
