Time for the fourth-round matches in the bottom half of the women’s draw. It’s such a stacked line-up with no unseeded players making it to this point. Mirra Andreeva and Jessica Pegula are increasing their recent win streaks, while Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek are on similarly incredible runs at this venue. Who do you think will make the quarterfinals?
WTA Indian Wells Day 7 Predictions
Elina Svitolina vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Pegula 5-2
Jessica Pegula won the title in Austin just before Indian Wells and has kept up that momentum beautifully so far. She defeated Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-1 at this venue four years ago, but that shouldn’t be enough to write off the accomplished Ukrainian here. Back in 2019 she made the Indian Wells semifinals and has been playing a slightly more aggressive version of her game since the pregnancy hiatus. Nonetheless, a small nod goes to Pegula who took her down in Doha last month and can dominate with her flat strokes here.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Qinwen Zheng vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: 1-1
Qinwen Zheng was just 1-3 for the season going into Indian Wells, but has managed to bounce back with a couple of wins. Seemingly the slow conditions should be pretty good for her ball-striking, even if she wasn’t able to show it the last two years. But Marta Kostyuk is no pushover and while her season has been far from consistent, she’s in better rhythm than Zheng and was the semifinalist here last year. She looks a tiny bit sharper at the moment with the Chinese likely still needing a bit of time to find her top shape.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Mirra Andreeva
Head-to-head: 1-1
Mirra Andreeva has now won eight matches in a row and her third round against Clara Tauson was a brutal display of what she can do to a powerful opponent on these courts. Her streak also includes a semifinal victory in Dubai over Elena Rybakina. But the Kazakh is on a streak of her own in Indian Wells, winning the 2023 edition and missing the tournament last year. Maybe Andreeva is the one who’ll keep the run going, after all the tactics should be quite similar to when she played Tauson and she’s serving very well at the moment too.
Prediction: Andreeva in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: Swiatek 3-1
Historically, Karolina Muchova is one of the few players who consistently trouble Iga Swiatek. It’s not tough to see why with the Czech bringing such a wide repertoire to the court and being able to keep the World No. 2 away from her favorite baseline patterns. But Swiatek did handle her game well last time around at the United Cup this year and has been unstoppable in Indian Wells since 2022, going 18-1. It’s going to take someone in unbelievable form to take her down here.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
