Experience, Redemption, Consistency, and Youthful Spirit

The WTA Quarterfinals at BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells

The quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells have concluded and have produced two semifinals that will show off Angelique Kerber’s experience and allow Belinda Bencic to redeem herself after significant injuries. Bianca Andreescu will be given the chance to show off how far her youthful spirit can go, while Elina Svitolina has the chance to demonstrate to the world that she has staying power.

Top Half of the Draw

Angelique Kerber [8] vs. Belinda Bencic [23]

Angelique Kerber had to earn her spot in the semifinals, by battling though a quarterfinal that pitted her against Venus Williams. In the process, Kerber improved her head to head to 6-3.  The first set of the match took nearly an hour. Williams broke for 4-2, but Kerber quickly broke back for 4-3 and backed that up with a hold and another break. Up 5-4 and serving for the set, things got tense again as Williams pushed the German to deuce three times and finally evened out the score. After two more holds, the set went to a tie break. Kerber dug deep to run down every ball and hit every line, while Williams’s movement slowed, and she sunk a few shots into the net. Kerber won the first set 7-6(3).

The second set was comparatively quick, being played in under 40 minutes. In maybe the most critical game of the match, with Kerber up 3-2, Williams worked hard to hold and fend off the German. After five deuces, an ace and a double fault, Kerber eventually won the game for 4-2 and quickly the set after both players held through the remainder of the match, for a final score of 7-6(3), 6-3.

Kerber faces Belinda Bencic next and is prepared to significantly change her game plan for that semifinal: “I think it will be completely different match tomorrow. Bencic is playing really flat and she's going for it. She has a lot of confidence, especially from the last weeks. It will be not an easy match. It will be a battle. These are the matches I'm always looking forward to have, especially in big tournaments, semis. I know that I have to play aggressive and go for it tomorrow.”

For more about Belinda Bencic’s run at Indian Wells this year, please check out our features about her here:

http://www. tennisviewmag.com/tennis-view-magazine/article/belinda-bencic-take-two

http://www. tennisviewmag.com/tennis-view-magazine/article/bencic-battles-indian-wells-semifinals

The last time these two played each other was in the final of the 2019 Hopman Cup, a match that Kerber won 6-4, 7-6(6). Kerber had also won their two other most recent encounters, 2018’s Wimbledon round of 16 and the finals of Hopman Cup. Their three preceding matches in 2014, 2015, and 2016 were won by the Swiss. Now that Bencic is close to her old form again, can she finally break through her losing streak against Kerber?

Bottom Half of the Draw

Bianca Andreescu vs. Elina Svitolina

Bianca Andreescu is on a Cinderella run at the BNP Paribas Open. With her quarterfinal appearance at the Premier Mandatory event, the 18-year-old is expected to make her top 50 debut when the rankings are published Monday.

She reached the semifinal with a stunning run, defeating two-time slam winner Garbiñe Muguruza 5-7. 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinal. While her youthful energy and excitement come through in her forehand, she is truly a tactician. In this run that has her facing many first-time opponents, she works strategically to get through the problems that cannot always be scouted with video review ahead of match time: “I try to evaluate during the match, definitely, because everyone has different days. Like maybe her backhand will be better one day. Her forehand might be shaky. So, I definitely try to evaluate during the match. Today [against Muguruza], I think I just – I stuck to my tactics, which was to put pressure on her forehand, move her around, change the rhythm like I always do, play my game.”

Andreescu faces Elina Svitolina [6] in the semifinal. Svitolina is working hard to back up her 2018 WTA Finals title. This is her seventh time at Indian Wells, but the first time she made it to the quarterfinals. Previously this year, she reached the semifinal at Doha and made it to the quarterfinal of the Australian Open. This title would cement her position as a serious contender to win her maiden grand slam title this year.

Svitolina is ready to test her strength and determination against the scrappy teenager she faces next: “She plays great tennis. I think she moves good, and I have to be ready. But for me, I don't think so much about it right now. I have to enjoy. I have to recover. I have one day. I'm going to speak with Andy about her game and go from there.” The 24-year-old knows the mentality and athleticism her opponent will bring: “So I have to be physically ready, you remember when you were 18 years old and you're playing against these top players at big tournament mentally ready. Just try to bring my best game for semifinal.”