Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek ‘pumped up’ after latest demolition job, Frances Tiafoe crashes out to qualifier

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World No. 2 Iga Swiatek gave a glimpse into her confident mindset after thrashing Dayana Yastremska to reach the last 16 at Indian Wells. The Pole backed up her opening win with a similarly dominant 6-0 6-2 victory in little over an hour. Swiatek will play Karolina Muchova as she continues her quest for a record third crown in California. Elsewhere, Frances Tiafoe suffered a shock exit.

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while playing against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine in the third round on Day 5 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Image credit: Getty Images

Iga Swiatek admitted she does not "feel threatened" after her latest red-hot display at Indian Wells.

For the second successive match at the WTA 1000 event in California, the world No. 2 lost just two games, completing a 6-0 6-2 win over Dayana Yastremska to reach the last 16.

Swiatek won the first 10 games before Yastremska got on the board and the 23-year-old needed little over an hour on court to seal her progress.

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The Pole is yet to win a title in 2025 but is not lacking confidence.

"I know that I'm in a good place and I’m going the right way," Swiatek said. "So I feel pretty pumped up. But on the other hand, calm, because I don’t feel that I’m threatened.

"I know how it feels like. I don’t know how it looks, because I’m not even watching usually these matches where I played perfectly, because there is not much to change or analyse."

Swiatek beat Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-0 in similarly devastating fashion to open her account at Indian Wells and did not face a break point against Yastremska.

She will take on No. 15 seed Karolina Muchova for a spot in the quarter-finals next as her quest for a record third title continues.

Indian Wells is the first leg of the Sunshine Double, with anticipation ramping up for the next Grand Slam.

The French Open - which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - will take centre stage at the end of May as Swiatek goes for a fourth-straight triumph.

Her high-spin game suits the iconic Roland-Garros clay, an attribute that also helps her excel in California.

"For sure, I feel like it makes it more visible, the topspin that I play," Swiatek added. "But I still have to play it. My game fits the surface here, yeah. The surface helps, but it’s not the only thing.

"You still need to do the job."

Elsewhere, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter was beaten in straight sets by Elena Rybakina, joining Emma Raducanu in exiting the tournament early.

'Speechless' Watanuki enters record books

World No. 349 Yosuke Watanuki made history as he earned a stunning win over home favourite Frances Tiafoe.

The Japanese qualifier triumphed 6-4 7-6(6) to become the lowest-ranked player to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells since world No. 882 Tommy Haas in 2004.

"I'm speechless. I can't find my words, but I'm so happy to be here," Watanuki said.

"I got injured last year, so I'm happy just to stay on the court. The most [important] thing about me, sometimes I'm a little bit nervous, sometimes I'm feeling down with the mentality.

"We tried to figure out that part. I try to enjoy more, even when I miss. A winner is much better, but even the miss I enjoy. That was the beauty here for me today."

Watanuki struck a sensational 47 winners to upset the 16th seed and set up a last 16 tie with Tallon Griekspoor, who knocked out top seed Alexander Zverev on his route to round four.

The defeat continued an underwhelming start to the season for Tiafoe, who fell at the second round of the Australian Open and is yet to make it beyond his second match at any event in 2025.

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