**Indian Wells Update: Swiatek and Rune Shine Amid Rain Delays**
Defending champion Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance at Indian Wells on Tuesday, securing a spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova. Despite rainy conditions that caused a 55-minute delay, the Polish world number two needed only 57 minutes to dispatch her opponent, who had pushed her to three sets in the 2023 French Open final. Swiatek’s performance was flawless, as she did not face a single break point and conceded just two games for the third consecutive match.
Swiatek, who claimed titles at Indian Wells in 2022 and 2024, is now eyeing a historic third championship. If successful, she would become the first woman to achieve this feat and join Martina Navratilova as the only female player to win back-to-back titles in the California desert. Reflecting on the weather disruptions, Swiatek admitted the rain motivated her to finish quickly, especially as conditions grew slippery toward the end. “I really wanted to finish, so I played more aggressively, but my shots stayed in. I’m glad I closed it out before the weather worsened,” she said.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Holger Rune delivered an impressive performance, defeating in-form Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4. Despite a brief rain delay during the first game, Rune maintained his composure and executed an aggressive strategy, hitting 22 winners. The 21-year-old, ranked 13th, ended Tsitsipas’ seven-match ATP winning streak, which included a recent title in Dubai. A highlight of the match came when Rune saved a break point with a spectacular between-the-legs shot, showcasing his creativity and athleticism.
“That tweener is the first thing I’ll check on my phone later,” Rune joked after the match. He also credited his mental strength for the victory, stating, “I stayed composed, and that made the difference. Stef is in great shape, so it was a tough but exciting battle.” Rune, who has struggled since reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, improved his head-to-head record against Tsitsipas to 4-0. He will next face 43rd-ranked Tallon Griekspoor, who caused an upset by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round.
Griekspoor’s match against Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki was also affected by rain, with a delay during the second set. However, the Dutch player prevailed 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. In the women’s draw, fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina were tied in their third set when play was suspended due to rain.
As the tournament progresses, Swiatek and Rune continue to demonstrate their resilience and skill, overcoming both their opponents and the challenging weather conditions at Indian Wells.
