Romania Simona Halep, winner of the tournament in 2015, advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells on Tuesday, defeating her compatriot Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-4.

Although weakened by its first ball (50%), Halep was much more efficient in the exchanges, managing to save four break points against it and convert three to four to fold in the first set in 33 minutes.

The second was a little more hooked, Cirstea stole her entry commitment. But the winner of Roland-Garros (2018) and Wimbledon (2019) managed to quickly erase this disadvantage, making a break and then converting her second match point to 5-4 in the opponent’s serve, to complete the match in 1h24.

The former world number one, now 26th in the standings, will meet in the next round the Croatian Petra Martic (79th) who got the best 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 against the Russian Liudmila Samsonova (32nd).

Swiatek overcomes Kerber’s obstacle

Iga Swiatek, 4th player in the world, advanced to the quarterfinals with a difficult 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 defeat to German Angelique Kerber (16th).

The 20-year-old Polish is already doing better than last year when she stopped in 8th place. She will face the American Madison Keys (29th) or the British Harriet Dart (122nd after qualifying).

As in his first two rounds, Swiatek needed three sets to beat his opponent, who started the match better in hot weather (32 degrees Celsius), showing more aggression.

The second set was a festival of break and unbreaks (six defeats in total service), the winner of Roland-Garros in 2020, taking the upper hand with her strength.

And when she had just lost her serve, losing 3-2 in the last set, Swiatek managed to win the last four games and win in more than two hours.