There are certain places that Iga Swiatek likes to make herself at home at.

Paris, where she is four-time champion on the red clay of Roland-Garros, comes to mind. But the Polish juggernaut also loves to make her presence felt at the iconic Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where she is angling for an historic title in 2025. 

The World No. 2 took out France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 on Friday evening to kick off her bid for a record third BNP Paribas Open women’s singles title. 

No. 2-seeded Swiatek improved to 19-2 lifetime at the Indian Wells, and 5-1 against No.71-ranked Garcia with a pitch-perfect effort. 

If she can complete another title run, she would become the first woman to ever triumph three times in the desert. 

“For sure it feels like home,” the 2022 and 2024 champion told the crowd. “I’ve thought about this tournament since the beginning of the year, that I just want to be here. I just want to come back and enjoy this atmosphere – and also the chill off the court. 

“I’m going to enjoy every minute for sure.”

Swiatek’s relentless footwork and depth of shot were on display from the onset as the 23-year-old reeled Garcia in quickly, breaking the Frenchwoman in each of her first two service games, and again in the seventh game of the opening set before converting her second set point to close out the opening set in 35 minutes. 

Swiatek was quicker to get on the front foot and it placed Garcia under immense pressure from start to finish. She shrunk the court with her speed and expanded it with her topspin drives, forcing Garcia into the defensive posture she typically seeks to avoid at all costs. 

A backhand return winner, rifled down the line for a clean winner, gave Swiatek her fifth service break of the day and a 6-2, 3-0 double break lead. There was nothing but shade on the court at that moment, as the setting sun left only a sliver of golden light in the easternmost rafters of Stadium 1. 

The sun was setting on Garcia’s chances as well as Swiatek, relaxed and imperious, sprinted to the finish. 

What did Swiatek like about her performance? 

“That I kept my focus until the end,” she said. “The conditions weren’t easy. It was pretty windy out here. I wanted my feet to be quick and to use my intuition to do that well. I just kept it easy. I wanted to be sure about where I’m going to play [the ball], and just go for it.” 

A forehand drive down the line eluded Garcia’s racquet for 4-0. Another break came quickly, as Garcia netted a backhand, and Swiatek stepped to the service line to serve out the victory with exactly one hour of match time elapsed. 

It was over a minute later, Swiatek locking up her latest command performance proving yet again that she is the woman to beat in the desert this year. 

Swiatek has already won seven sets by a 6-0 score in 2025. At Indian Wells, the Pole has recorded eight bagel sets – one in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023, three in 2024 and today’s against Garcia. 

Pegula, Rybakina Advance 

Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula, the No.2-ranked American, closed the Stadium 1 day session with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Poland’s Magda Linette. Pegula, last months’ champion at Austin, stretches her current winning streak to six and sets a third-round clash with China’s Wang Xinyu. 

Xinyu came through with an upset win over 26th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4, 6-4. 

“Tough conditions out there,” Pegula said. “Just happy I was able to kind of adapt. Super windy, super cold. Kind of knew it wasn't going to be pretty – glad I got the job done.”

2021 quarterfinalist Pegula is one of four Americans currently ranked inside the Top 10. 

Seventh-seeded Elena Rybakina also powered through in straight sets. The 2023 champion defeated Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3 to set a third-round clash with Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.