Iga Swiatek vs Sorana Cirstea Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Indian Wells

Prediction published on 15/03/2023, 14:08  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 15/03/2023 at 15:33 in Tennis Predictions

Iga Swiatek continues her bid to retain the Indian Wells title. That's not been achieved since Martina Navratiova did so in 1991. To reach the last four, Swiatek has to get past unseeded Sorana Cirstea, with the winner taking on either Elena Rybakina or Karolin a Muchova. Swiatek has already won one title this year, being successful in Doha. That was a truly dominant week for the world number one, losing just five games in the three matches played. That was followed by a run to the final in Dubai where the Pole lost to Barbora Krejcikova. Swiatek is yet to drop a set in this tournament with 14 games dropped. A win over Cirstea will take her up to second in the Live WTA Race (behind Aryna Sabalenka) if Rybakina loses to Muchova. 

Sorana Cirstea is in her first Indian Wells quarter final. Her previous best here was a fourth round appearance last year. The Romanian began this event ranked 83rd but is up to 74th in the live list. An unexpected win over Swiatek would take her up to 55th. Cirstea hasn't had a great year so far. This is her first quarter final of 2023. There were signs of a return to form when beating Beatriz Haddad Maia in Dubai. This tournament has seen the 32-year-old win four matches with only one set dropped. That came in the last round when she defeated fifth seeded Caroline Garcia, losing the middle set. This is only her second match against Swiatek. The other was in last year's Australian Open where she won the first set but ended up losing the next two. Swiatek is in excellent form and can win this in straight sets.