With shocks galore occurring on both sides of the men’s and women’s draw, it’s fair to say things have really opened up for the former world number one, Simona Halep.
We’ve seen some recognisable faces in the women’s game fall during the first Masters 1000 event of the season.
In the round of 64, there were multiple shocks, as 36-year-old veteran Estonian Kaia Kanepi knocked out Switzerland’s 22nd seed Belinda Bencic, in straight sets.
Little known Italian Jasmine Paolini arguably caused the biggest upset in knocking out the second seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open conqueror, Danka Kovinić, claimed another scalp as the Montenegrin saw off former world number one Karolína Plíšková, in three close sets.
The draw opened up further when four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, surprisingly fell in straight sets to Veronika Kudermetova.
12th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was also stunned by Britain’s Harriet Dart, the biggest win of her career to date, in three sets.
If that wasn’t enough, Alison Riske of the United States downed Spain’s two-time Grand Slam winner Garbiñe Muguruza in the same round, also.
Bright talent Amanda Anisimova, who won a tie-break tens event on the launch of this year’s Indian Wells, was forced to pull out after being a set-all with Canadian youngster Leylah Fernandez.
Croatia’s Petra Martić caused an upset of her own in the round of 32, to beat Raducanu, ending British hopes, as the US Open champion’s stuttering start to the season continues.
Halep’s challengers
The Romanian has made steady progress in reaching the semi-finals, only dropping a solitary set in the opening round.
This was backed up by an impressive win against the talented and dangerous Coco Gauff in the round of 32. Which on paper, was the most difficult of her match-ups.
The 24th seed also overcame Martić in the quarters in convincing fashion.
Now winning the tournament could all come down to whoever wins tonight out of Halep and 2020 French Open champion, Iga Świątek, who has also played her way into form this past week.
Notable wins have come against the likes of talented Danish teenager Clara Tauson, where the Pole came back from a set down to triumph.
This was followed by a hard-fought victory over German Angelique Kerber.
In the quarter-finals, a straight sets demolition of American Madison Keys set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Halep.
On the other side of the draw, quietly making their way through towards the final, has been Spain’s Paula Badosa, the defending champion from last Autumn’s edition no less.
She has not dropped a single set on her way to the semis and overcame dangerous opponents in the likes of Fernandez and Kudermetova in the quarters.
Standing in her way is Greece’s Maria Sakkari, who is arguably the biggest underdog of the four.
She is also yet to drop a set this tournament and will surely fancy her chances of making the final.
Verdict – @jspencer28
Halep vs Świątek could go either way in the battle of the heavyweights.
Whoever does come out on top, will be well placed to win the final as big matches are often the best possible way to prepare for a major final.
Indian Wells is, alongside the WTA Tour Finals in Guadalajara, the biggest tournament outside of the Grand Slams on the women’s circuit.
This means that Badosa’s experience of winning in the Californian dessert just a few months ago, will serve her well against Sakkari.
I think Halep vs Badosa could be the final match-up, but to be honest, tonight is going to be too close to call. I can’t wait.
