Iga Swiatek has been one of the most dominant players in women’s tennis in recent years, winning five Grand Slam titles, including three consecutive French Open trophies. At Indian Wells, she is aiming for a third title after triumphing in the 2022 and 2024 editions. While she still has matches to play to achieve that, she has already surpassed one of Serena Williams’ long-standing records.
She advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova, marking the 21st time she has reached this stage at a WTA-1000 event. With this win, she now holds the highest percentage of quarterfinal appearances in WTA-1000 tournaments since the format’s introduction in 2009.
The Polish star has reached the final eight in 61.8 percent of her WTA-1000 tournaments (21 out of 34), surpassing Serena Williams’ previous record of 61.2 percent.
Since 1989, only Monica Seles and Steffi Graf (33 each) have recorded 30 combined wins in fewer matches at Indian Wells and Miami than Swiatek (34), who now equals Chris Evert and Venus Williams.
Serena Williams had the best percentage of wins at the WTA-1000 events (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Since the tournament began in 1989, Swiatek has become one of the few players to make four consecutive quarterfinals at Indian Wells (2022-2025). Only Lindsay Davenport, with six straight appearances from 1993 to 1998, and Martina Hingis, with five from 1998 to 2002, have achieved longer streaks.
see also
Carlos Alcaraz admits fans wearing absurd costumes helped him defeat Shapovalov at Indian Wells
Swiatek embraces Indian Wells conditions
As in past years, players have voiced concerns about the conditions at Indian Wells, particularly the slower courts compared to other hard courts on tour. However, Swiatek, a clay-court specialist, is one of the few who enjoy the surface.
“I feel like it’s fine. Still a slow, bouncy court. So it’s pretty much the same, but maybe it’s a bit different. It’s hard for me to say,” she said regarding the complaints raised by players such as Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Coco Gauff.
“I felt great,” she told reporters. “I was able to adjust [after the rain delay]. I’m happy about that. I used all my chances, and I’m pretty happy I played with such confidence and could finish it quickly before the rain started again.”
Next, Swiatek will face eighth seed Qinwen Zheng, who defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 in the Round of 16. It will be a rematch of their Paris Olympics encounter from last summer, in which Zheng secured the biggest win of her career by upsetting Swiaek in the semifinals on Court Philippe Chatrier en route to the gold medal.
