We are almost done with one of the Sunshine Doubles as the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, or Indian Wells as many people call it, has reached the semifinals on both sides. The men have the day off on Friday, though, which means the entire focus goes on the women's semifinals. That is great news for tennis fans, too, because there are two great matches to watch.
Perhaps the four players in the best form will be competing to reach the final. There is certainly no obvious favorite, and two are attempting to get their second titles of the year and prove they belong in the top five.
But who will win? These are our best guesses.
Predicting the WTA semifinals at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open
Iga Swiatek (2) versus Mirra Andreeva (9)
Swiatek is so fantastic and dominant on clay courts that it is easy to think she is not nearly as good on other surfaces. That might be true of grass, but the Pole is still very good on hard courts. In fact, she has won Indian Wells twice, including last year. She knows she can win.
Andreeva is ascending and playing the best tennis of her young career. She has learned to adapt to extreme power already, and she has the ability to move well and keep points alive. She will only get better, of course, and in two or three years, she could be battling for the top ranking on the WTA tour.
There is no doubt that she could beat Swiatek, either, as she dominated the Pole in Dubai earlier this year. Swiatek has been playing incredibly well this week, though, so the guess is that the Pole wins in three sets.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) versus Madison Keys (5)
These two have faced each other six times before, but their most meaningful match was their most recent one. Keys stunned the tennis world by defeating Sabalenka in the final of the Australian Open. Sabalenka had won the Grand Slam the previous two years, and Keys had never won a major. The Belarusian appeared to be nearly unbeatable in Australia.
Keys is having her best start to any tennis season she has had. Her win in Melbourne was no fluke, and she has risen in the rankings. If the American wins the event, she will move up to WTA No. 4.
Few players have the ability to match Sabalenka's power, but Keys can come close. That is how she stole the Aussie Open trophy. Still, when each player is playing their best, Sabalenka is the better of the two. Her forehand can push Keys back, and as long as she is landing her first serve, she should control the match. The guess here, though, is that Keys wins in straight sets.
Indian Wells WTA semifinals details:
- Time of first match: Swiatek and Andreeva will play at 7 pm ET (4 pm PT), and Sabalenka/Keys will follow.
- How to watch: The Tennis Channel will carry the action in the United States; click here for all listings.
- Location: The tournament is held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. All the courts have hard surfaces.