Iga Swiatek opens Indian Wells title defense with routine win

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Iga Swiatek got her BNP Paribas Open title defense off to a hot start in the desert, dominating Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0 on Friday at Indian Wells.

Swiatek, the No. 2 seed from Poland, will next face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who upset Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in straight sets earlier in the day.

Elena Rybakina was sharp in her first match in Indian Wells since winning the title in 2023, taking out Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3.

Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, missed the tournament last year because of illness.

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She will face Britain’s Katie Boulter in the third round after the No. 25 seed beat Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-0.

Fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula and 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva both advanced in straight sets under the lights.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the No. 18 seed, and a pair of Czechs — No. 15 seed Karolina Muchova and Katerina Siniakova — also advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 event.

Elina Svitolina thanked the Indian Wells fans for supporting her tennis and her country of Ukraine after beating American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-6 (8), 6-3.

Svitolina was cheered on by the fans despite playing an American and soaked in the applause after converting her ninth match point under the lights on a cold night in the California desert.

“I want to thank you for your support of Ukraine,” she said in an on-court interview. “It’s nice to get these little wins for Ukraine.”

Svitolina, seeded 23rd, will play either Danielle Collins or Hailey Baptiste in the third round.

A Ukrainian flag flapped in the wind above Stadium Three court as Svitolina was cheered on during the match by her husband Gael Monfils, who plays American Sebastian Korda in the second round Saturday.

Svitolina has been outspoken in support of her home country since Russia’s invasion three years ago.

Reuters contributed to this report.