Skip to content
BNP Paribas Open
  • Get Tickets
  • Plan Your Visit
  • News
Get tickets

Indian Wells, California

March 4 - 17, 2024

Get tickets
  • 2024 BNP Paribas Open
  • Tickets & Packages Toggle
    • Series Packages
    • Mini Packages
    • Travel Packages
    • Group Packages
    • Luxury Suites
    • Single Session Tickets
    • Evening Session
    • Daily Doubles
    • Qualifying Rounds
    • My Tickets Account
  • News
  • Players
  • Tournament Toggle
    • Competition Schedule
    • How to Watch
    • 2023 Scores & Results
    • Venue ↗
    • History
    • Past Champions
  • Plan Your Visit Toggle
    • Dining
    • Shopping
    • 2023 On-Site Activities
    • Transportation/Parking
    • Official Event Mobile App
    • FAQS
  • Get Involved Toggle
    • Volunteers
    • Ball Crew
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Partnerships Toggle
    • Partners
    • Partnership Opportunities
  • Contact
BNP Paribas Open Insider News
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
WTA

WTA Semifinals: Clinical Rybakina Takes Down Swiatek, Sets Up Australian Open Final Rematch Against Sabalenka

Sunday, March 17, 2023 - Elena Rybakina plays against Iga Swiatek during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/BNP Paribas Open)

by Chris Oddo
03/17/2023

The percussive strikes came early off the racquet of Elena Rybakina, and they never stopped coming.

The 10th-seeded Kazakh delivered a stunning display of power tennis on Friday night at the BNP Paribas Open. She tested defending champion Iga Swiatek in every corner of the court and stormed to an eye-opening 6-2, 6-2 triumph to book her spot alongside Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open women’s singles final.

Get 2023 BNP Paribas Open Tickets

Rybakina is the first player from Kazakhstan to reach a singles final in the tournament’s 47-year history.

“Of course I’m very proud, I really played good today,” Rybakina told the crowd after her 15th win of the season. “I didn’t expect that I was going to play that good today. Yesterday was a really tough match.”

“I had nothing to lose, I just wanted to come and enjoy – it really went my way, I played one of the best matches this year.”

Master 👏 class 👏

Rybakina claims victory over Swiatek for the second time this season to dethrone the champ 6-2, 6-2 and reach a first IW final.#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/SUGZKLyf7J

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 18, 2023

It wasn’t thunder that fans inside Stadium 1 were hearing as Rybakina and Swiatek traded blows in the early going, it was the heavy power of the 23-year-old’s groundstrokes, which repeatedly rushed Swiatek and forced her into uncharacteristic errors.

It didn’t take long for Rybakina to edge ahead by a break for 2-0, but Swiatek remained defiant and clung close on the scoreboard, working the baseline as she angled for a break back.

The Pole would earn two chances with Rybakina serving at 3-1 but the No.10 seed would not yield as she saved a pair of break points to claim the 11-point, line-in-the-sand game to go up 4-1.

It would prove to be a turning point.

A discouraged Swiatek ended up double-faulting on set point, an ominous occurrence as she started the second set in a cloud of doubt.

In the end the striking contrast in first-serve points between the two rivals left Swiatek on the back foot far too often in the 76-minute contest. Rybakina won 28 of 34 first-serve points (82.4 percent), while Swiatek only managed to win 12 of 28 (42.9 percent).

Swiatek fell behind 5-0 in the second set before rallying to grab a couple games. It was all the three-time Grand Slam could offer before Rybakina finished off the victory, snapping the Pole’s 10-match BNP Paribas Open winning streak and improving to 2-0 in 2023 against the reigning World No.1.

Rybakina’s victory sets a mouthwatering clash with Aryna Sabalenka for the BNP Paribas Open title on Sunday.

Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 4-0, but all four of their clashes have gone to a deciding set, including their nailbiter in this year’s Australian Open final, won by Sabalenka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

“It was a really close match in Australia,” Rybakina said on court after her win. “We’ve had so many battles. For now I’m losing, but hopefully on Sunday it’s going to change. If I’m going to play like I did today I think I have all the chances.”

Get 2023 BNP Paribas Open Tickets

Elena Rybakina v Iga Swiatek BNP Paribas OpenRybakina indian wellsSwiatek v Rybakina
  • Share it with facebook
  • Share it with twitter
  • Share it with email
Popular news
  • 07/13/2023 Wimbledon Watch: Ons Jabeur Leads The Charge Heading Into Championship Weekend
  • 07/17/2023 Wimbledon Recap: Alcaraz Marks Changing Of The Guard With Signature Victory Over Djokovic, Vondrousova Makes History
  • 03/19/2023 Aryna Sabalenka – Sunday. March 19, 2023
  • 03/13/2023 Q&A: Holger Rune Is Ready To Get To The Top Of Tennis
  • 03/10/2022 Women’s Rising Stars are Ready for a Tennis Paradise Breakthrough
Recent news
  • 09/11/2023 Coco Claims US Open Breakthrough, Djokovic Triumphs Once Again In New York
  • 08/31/2023 Sodexo Live! Named Hospitality Partner to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and BNP Paribas Open
  • 08/01/2023 “Race To Indian Wells” Champions Crowned: California Natives Earn 2024 Qualifying Wild Cards
  • 07/17/2023 Wimbledon Recap: Alcaraz Marks Changing Of The Guard With Signature Victory Over Djokovic, Vondrousova Makes History
  • 07/13/2023 Wimbledon Watch: Ons Jabeur Leads The Charge Heading Into Championship Weekend

Post navigation

PreviousSiniakova and Krejcikova Move One Win Away From Maiden BNP Paribas Open Doubles Title
NextVideo: Iga Swiatek – Friday, March 17, 2023
  • bnp logo
  • penn logo
  • fila logo
  • IW logo
  • emirates logo
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Partnerships
  • Sustainability
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
© 2023 BNP Paribas Open a Desert Champions LLC Event
Close
Get the latest updates
Get the latest updates from Tennis Paradise
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Subscribe