Zheng Qinwen acknowledges that Iga Swiatek has been on fire in Indian Wells this year but also warned the world No. 2 that she is also feeling pretty well about her game and is ready for "a fight" in their quarterfinal match.
After going only 1-3 through her first tournaments of the year and evidently struggling, the Chinese tennis star is kickstarting her season in the desert with three notable straight-set wins over Victoria Azarenka, Lulu Sun, and Marta Kostyuk.
Before the 2024 Australian Open runner-up took to the court, Swiatek annihilated Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-1. In previous rounds, the Pole also made light work of Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-0 and Dayana Yastremska 6-0 6-2.
However, Zheng also meant the business on Tuesday night, dismantling No. 18 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-2.
We will both give our best. She won really easily her first three matches here at Indian Wells. Shes in good shape. Same as me. Were gonna fight. Lets see what happens in the next match," the world No. 8 said.
Can Zheng beat Swiatek in back-to-back matches?
In a span of two years, the 22-year-old was beaten six times by the Polish five-time Grand Slam champion.
Considering how dominant the former world No. 1 had been against the Chinese, many didn't give the 2024 Australian Open finalist many chances in their Paris Olympics semifinal last summer. But then, Zheng's first win over Swiatek came when it was least expected, on the clay courts of Roland Garros 6-2 7-5.
"I guess Qinwen I need to learn from our last match and see also how she plays right now because it's been a while since we played," the Pole said when asked about her upcoming match against the No. 8 seed.
