Aryna Sabalenka sends message of assurance to Iga Swiatek after Pole uniquely places trust in her
Aryna Sabalenka Cruises Into Indian Wells Quarterfinals, Shares Hilarious Take on Iga Swiatek’s Survival Choice
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka powered past Sonay Kartal 6-1, 6-2 to book her place in the BNP Paribas Open 2025 quarterfinals at Indian Wells. With defending champion Iga Swiatek and Australian Open winner Madison Keys also making deep runs, the tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling battle between the world’s top players.
While the competition on court remains fierce, players are also making waves on social media. In a fun promotional segment, several stars were asked which player they would prefer to be stranded with in a desert. Iga Swiatek chose Sabalenka, and the Belarusian was asked for her thoughts on the selection during her press conference on March 12.
Sabalenka confidently assured Swiatek that she’d take care of her—but also joked that if food ran out, her rival might be in trouble!
“I got you, I got you, Iga. We’re gonna survive. I’m gonna bring you food. Don’t worry. Listen, it could go either way. If there wouldn’t be food, I would go for her probably, you know. So it’s kinda like a good and bad option for her. I’ll do my best to do everything so we are not hungry and we’re safe,” Sabalenka said with a laugh.
Sabalenka Sets Sights on Semifinals, Faces Samsonova Next
After the lighthearted moment, Sabalenka quickly refocused on her quarterfinal clash against World No. 25 Liudmila Samsonova on Thursday, March 13.
The top seed has been in dominant form, kicking off her Indian Wells campaign with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over McCartney Kessler, followed by commanding 6-1, 6-2 victories over Lucia Bronzetti and Sonay Kartal. However, she’s in for a bigger challenge against Samsonova.
Their head-to-head record stands at 2-2, with Sabalenka winning their most recent meeting 6-3, 6-2 en route to her Cincinnati Open title last year. Interestingly, neither player has ever won back-to-back matches in this rivalry—meaning if the trend holds, it could be Samsonova’s turn to shine.
The Russian has been in top form herself, dismantling sixth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-0, 6-4 in the previous round.
Sabalenka is aiming to reach the Indian Wells semifinals for the second time, having finished as the runner-up in 2023. Meanwhile, Samsonova is looking to break new ground by making her first-ever semifinal appearance at the prestigious event.
With both players in strong form, the quarterfinal showdown promises to be a must-watch battle in the California desert.
