Based on the seedings, the women’s doubles semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open didn’t go as expected.

The top seeds, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and fifth seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Zhang Shuai, were both knocked out by unseeded teams on Thursday.

Asia Muhammad of the US and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands ousted Siniakova and Townsend 6-4, 4-6, [10-8] after Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova downed Hsieh and Zhang 7-5, 6-3.

Muhammad slammed an ace on match point to hand Siniakova and Townsend — the champions at the Australian Open and Dubai — their first defeat of 2025.

They entered Indian Wells 15th in the calendar year standings, not making a quarterfinal prior to the desert.

But the pair have only lost one set, beginning their sojourn by beating the Olympic champions, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, 6-4, 6-0.

Nicholls of the UK and Slovakia's Mihalikova entered Indian Wells 22nd in the calendar year standings. They had lost three of their last four matches prior to Indian Wells. 

Like their opponents in the final, they're winning most of the big points this week. 

The duo saved six of seven break points against Hsieh and Zhang -- Grand Slam doubles winners with different partners -- while going three of four on their own break chances. 

All six break points saved came in back-to-back games in the second when proceedings were still on serve. 

Last year, the majestic Hsieh won her fourth title in the desert and second partnering Elise Mertens. 

Nicholls and Mihalikova began their stay by knocking off another seeded pair, the No. 7 tandem of Anna Danilina and Irina Khromacheva, in a match tiebreak after trailing by a set and break. 

The top seed mixed doubles events did successful double duty on Day 9 as the quarterfinals and semifinals of the second annual mixed doubles event in Tennis Paradise took place on Thursday. 

Olympic women’s doubles gold medalist Sara Errani, partnered with compatriot Andrea Vavassori, defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Timea Babos 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-7. 

Former women’s doubles No.1 Errani and Vavassori, mixed doubles champions at the 2024 US Open, then capped off a successful day with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over hometown favorite Desirae Krawczyk and Great Britain’s Neal Skupski. 

In the lower-half semifinal, third-seeded Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mate Pavic took down John Peers and Diana Shnaider, winning a dramatic match tiebreak to advance 6-2, 4-6, 13-11.