BNP Paribas Open 2023 Women's Report

The 2023 BNP Paribas Open women's tournament boasted a remarkably strong field. The entire world's top ten traveled to the United States to compete in the Indian Wells tournament. Naturally, Iga Światek, the top seed and 2022 winner, was the obvious favorite. However, the Polish player faced some tough competition, including Ons Jabeur, Caroline Garcia, Jessica Pegula, the young Coco Gauff, the newly crowned Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka , and the in-form Elena Rybakina.

In addition, the list of participants, including Petra Kvitova and former winner Viktoria Azarenka (2012 and 2016), also included several experienced names that were definitely worth considering. However, it quickly became clear to Belarusian Azarenka that she didn't need to worry about a title this year. She was eliminated in the second round by Karolina Muchová. At that point, Arantxa Rus, the only Dutch player in the main draw of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open, was already out. Camila Giorgi defeated our compatriot in the first round with a score of 6-3/6-3.

Highlights BNP Paribas Open 2023 for women

Another player who already exited the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in the first round was Danielle Collins. The world number 31 was defeated in straight sets by Dalma Galfi (WTA-80). Furthermore, many seeded players had byes in the first round, so there weren't many surprises. The second round, however, was a different story. As mentioned, Muchová knocked out former champion Azarenka, and Belinda Bencic was also eliminated. The Swiss world number nine couldn't live up to her favorite role against her compatriot Jill Teichman. Furthermore, Liudmila Samsonova (who lost in three sets to Bernarda Pera) and Madison Keys (who retired against Sorana Cristea) were eliminated.

A round later, the tournament also ended for fourth-seeded Ons Jabeur. Marketa Vondrousova proved to be an unexpected banana skin: 7-6/6-4. Kasatkina (WTA-8) also had a quick start to preparing for her next tournament. While the Russian had already lost to her compatriot Varvara Gracheva (WTA-66) at the 2023 Australian Open, the same situation happened again at Indian Wells. Britain's Emma Raducanu, on the other hand, recorded a strong victory in the third round by defeating thirteenth-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Rybakina again too strong for Swiatek

After Cirstea had already knocked Keys out of the tournament, the Romanian also proved too strong for the fifth-seeded Garcia in the round of 16. Third-seeded Pegula also suffered a set defeat in this round. After three sets, she had to concede defeat to Kvitova, who thus qualified for the quarterfinals. This proved to be the final stop for the Czech, as Maria Sakkari proved too strong. Sakkari, along with Światek, Rybakina, and Sabalenka, thus joined the final four women remaining at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open. In these semifinals, Sabalenka defeated Sakkari 6-2/6-3, and Rybakina pulled off another upset by eliminating Światek. While the Kazakh had already eliminated the world number one at the Australian Open a month earlier, she now made short work of Światek: 6-2/6-2.

BNP Paribas Open 2023 Women's Final

Thus, the women's singles final at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open was between Rybakina and Sabalenka, a resounding replay of the Australian Open final earlier this year. In that final, Belarusian Sabalenka ultimately emerged victorious, and it was clear Rybakina didn't want that to happen again. The first set was immediately tense, ending in a tiebreak and lasting almost an hour and a half. Ultimately, Rybakina won the tiebreak 13-11, securing a shot at her fourth career WTA title. In the second set, she continued her winning streak and immediately broke Sabalenka's serve, quickly leading 3-1. She held on to this lead, winning the set 6-4, lifting the trophy and securing her first WTA 1000 title.