Iga Swiatek has her title defence on track having won against Sorana Cirstea in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells on Thursday.
The Pole breezed her way into the semi-finals by winning 6-2 6-3 in the Southern California desert.
It was no surprise that she dominated the match, making it extremely difficult for Cirstea to handle the momentum of the encounter.
“Honestly, I didn’t experience everything in tennis yet but for sure, this feeling is great,” the world number one said in her on-court interview.
“From the beginning of the tournament, I felt this positive energy, and the fans are really supportive.
“It’s not often when you are the defending champion, but I feel like I’m handling it pretty well and I’m just playing my game.”
Her next opponent is reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina who beat Karolina Muchova 7-6(4) 2-6 6-4 to reach her first WTA Tour 1000 event.
“It was very tough today,” Rybakina said in her on-court interview after the match.
“I didn’t start that well. I was a bit slower than usual.
"Karolina, she played really well. And then in important moments, I played well.”
Swiatek will need to be at her very best to see off Rybakina and move within one win of winning back-to-back Indian Wells titles, making her the first woman to defend the title at Indian Wells since Martina Navratilova in 1991.
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