Tennis Tracker: Defending champs Fritz pushes for semis, Rybakina and Swiatek progress
23:36 CET - Despite a slight wobble by her high standards, Iga Swiatek (21) has made her way into the final four at Indian Wells with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over qualifier Sorana Cirstea (32). The Polish number one seed was broken - a rarity in 2023 - before seeing off the game in one hour and 23 minutes. She sets up a tie against Elena Rybakina (23).
21:59 CET - And we are back to Indian Wells with the first result of the evening. Elena Rybakina (23) has beaten Karolina Muchova (26) 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals in the women's draw. The win means she will number one seed Iga Swiatek (21) for a spot in the final.
8:42 CET - The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has issued a formal warning to Anastasia Potapova for wearing a T-shirt of Russian football team Spartak Moscow before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells this week.
"Regarding the Russian soccer team shirt, the WTA has formally warned the player that this was not acceptable nor an appropriate action," the WTA said in a statement. "We do not expect to see any reoccurrence of this in the future."
Read the full story here.
8:35 CET - Aryna Sabalenka said her Australian Open triumph has helped tame the nerves that had undermined her in the past and has infused her with a self-belief she harnessed to devastating effect on Wednesday when she routed Coco Gauff at Indian Wells.
"I feel a little bit different on the court this year. I feel like I'm a little bit a different player,
"Because before, I didn't have a slam, and every time I felt so much pressure from myself because I really wanted to get it. And every time something would happen, I would lose really close matches just because I really wanted it. I would miss so many easy shots," she said.
Read the full story here.
7:46 CET - The quarter finals continue for both ATP and WTA as defending champion Taylor Fritz clashes with Italian Jannik Sinner later tonight. The winner will play against either Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
On the other hand, Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina will try to make it to another final in 2023 as she faces Karolina Muchova. Following that is world no.1 Iga Swiatek protecting her title against Sorana Cirstea.
7:40 CET - Meanwhile on the women's end, Maria Sakkari confirmed the first semi-final as she rallied against Czech Petra Kvitova 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
On Saturday, the Greek will take to the court against Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka who was victorious over local prodigy Coco Gauff.
7:30 CET - We start today's Tennis Tracker with Daniil Medvedev's victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the Russian was victorious with a 6-3, 7-5 result.
Facing Frances Tiafoe on Saturday as the Indian Wells' first semi-final, the American had defeated Cameron Norrie earlier on Wednesday.