Elina Svitolina has advanced to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in three sets on Thursday at Indian Wells. The Ukrainian player will now face World No. 3 and current Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the semifinal on Friday.
Svitolina won the first set 6-2, but Swiatek fought back in the second to tie the match and send the quarterfinal into a deciding set. Although Swiatek had the momentum, she couldn’t capitalize, as Svitolina made a thrilling comeback in the third set, 6-4, securing her spot in the final four at Indian Wells.
After the match, the players shook hands at the net, and then Svitolina, with a bright smile, waved to the crowd, celebrating her win. Fans noticed Swiatek’s composure and facial expression during the handshake and criticized her on social media.
“I hate these WTA handshakes, what’s wrong with [Iga] Swiatek? Show some respect (both), look how Novak, Delpo did no matter if they win or lose, I’ve never seen a normal handshake on WTA so far,” one fan commented.
“Handshake colder than ice,” another fan commented.
“That was an ice-cold handshake from Iga,” yet another fan commented.
Besides commenting on their ire over the cold handshake from Swiatek, fans also criticized the Pole on other social media platforms, many stating that the World No. 2 lacked sportsmanship in defeat.
The loss marks the third quarterfinal exit for Swiatek in that many tournaments as the Pole continues her search for her maiden title in 2026. In contrast, Svitolina is having a tremendous year, reaching the semifinals or beyond in four of the five events she has played in 2026 and already has the ASB Classic title to her name.
After Beating Iga Swiatek, Elina Svitolina Set To Face Elena Rybakina In Indian Wells SF
Elina Svitolina will face Elena Rybakina in the semifinals at Indian Wells on Friday after beating Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, while World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will take on Linda Noskova in the other semifinal. While many are predicting an Australian Open final rerun at the BNP Paribas Open, it would be foolish to write off Svitolina this early.
Svitolina and Rybakina have faced each other six times in the past, sharing the head-to-head tie at three wins apiece. In these meetings, the duo has played each other three times on clay, twice on grass, and once on a hard surface, with the Ukrainian getting the better of Rybakina in that hard-court match at the Tokyo Olympics.
Their most recent meeting came on the clay court at the Madrid Open last year, where Svitolina yet again got the better of the Kazakh in straight sets. The momentum is riding on either end; it is anticipated to be a feisty semifinal between the two on Friday.
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What Next For Coco Gauff After Indian Wells Heartbreak? American’s Next Tournament & Schedule Update
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