Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are heavy favorites in the Indian Wells semifinals

2022 BNP Paribas Open champion and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and 2023 US Open champion and World No. 3 Coco Gauff are in the semifinals at Indian Wells. Each is a heavy favorite to win her match which would force a clash of two of the hottest players on the WTA Tour, but as we have seen many times over the past two weeks, upsets are always possible.

Swiatek kicks off semifinal action at 7:00 PM EDT against Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The pair met one previous time at the 2021 French Open. Swiatek won the match 6-3, 6-4. Both players' games have improved since then. The 22-year-old Swiatek is 14-2 in 2024 and seeking her second title. She won Doha for the third straight year in February.

Kostyuk has never reached the Indian Wells semifinals before and calls it a "surreal" experience to advance to this level. The 21-year-old is ranked 32nd and has a 12-5 record in 2024.

Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff are the second semifinal match

At 9:00 EDT, Coco Gauff faces Maria Sakkari. The two played each other at the Mubadala Citi Open final in Washington, DC last August with Gauff winning the match and the title, but Sakkari owns the head-to-head record 4-3.

Sakkari has struggled in big matches over the past couple of years, but she has renewed confidence and is returning to form under new coach David Witt, former coach of Jessica Pegula and Venus Williams.

She defeated Caroline Garcia in straight sets and Emma Navarro, who upset Aryna Sabalenka in the Round of 16, in three sets, coming from behind after dropping the first set.

Swiatek is the only player in the final four who won at Indian Wells before, but both semifinals should provide interesting and entertaining tennis. Winners advance to the finals which will be played on Sunday at a time yet to be determined.

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