Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek beats Zheng Qinwen to reach semi-finals

Defending champion Iga Swiatek cruised past China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals.

Zheng beat Swiatek on the way to winning gold at last year’s Paris Olympics – but was no match for the Pole in their first meeting since.

The world number two claimed the first set 6-3 and eased into a 5-1 lead in the second before bad weather led to play being suspended.

Zheng, 22, improved after the delay and won two straight games before Swiatek closed out the match 6-3 6-3.

“It was a weird match with all the breaks and everything, but I wanted to be composed and really focused and I’m glad that I did that,” Swiatek said.

Swiatek is chasing a record third title at the Californian event having won in 2022 and 2024.

The 23-year-old will face either Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina or Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the last four.