Defending Indian Wells champion Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run on Thursday, avenging her Olympic loss to Zheng Qinwen with a 6-3, 6-3 victory to secure a semi-final berth. The Polish world No. 2 will now face 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, a rising Russian star who upset her in Dubai last month, making history as the youngest WTA 1000champion.

In the top half of the draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will take on Australian Open champion Madison Keys in another highly anticipated clash. Keys denied Sabalenka her third consecutive Melbourne title earlier this year, setting up a rematch with high stakes.

Swiatek Seeks Redemption Against Andreeva

Swiatek, who lifted her first Indian Wells title in 2022, is chasing a third championship in California and could join Martina Navratilova as the only woman to win back-to-back titles at the event.

Despite being tested by Zheng, Swiatek converted all five break points and sealed the victory by breaking her opponent at love in the final game—just after a brief rain delay.

"It was a weird match with all the breaks, but I stayed composed and focused," Swiatek said post-match.

Although Zheng fought back with late breaks in both sets, she was unable to capitalize on multiple 40-0 leads, allowing Swiatek to control the match.

Swiatek will now have another chance at revenge against Andreeva, who secured her spot in the semifinals with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Elina Svitolina. The Russian teenager struck 23 winners and dominated in key moments to earn another shot at the world No. 2.

Despite her previous win over Swiatek, Andreeva remains cautious ahead of their Friday showdown.

"It's a new day, new match, new conditions, new country. Everything is different," she said.

Sabalenka Aims for Keys Payback

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Liudmila Samsonova. Although she faced an early break, Sabalenka bounced back emphatically, winning nine straight games to seize control.

A brief mid-set rally from Samsonova tied the second set at 3-3, but Sabalenka responded immediately, closing the match with a stunning backhand passing winner on match point.

Now, the two-time Australian Open champion will face Madison Keys, who overpowered Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-1 in just 64 minutes.

READ ALSO: Keys triumphs over Sabalenka to claim first Grand Slam title at Australian Open

Keys, on a 16-match winning streak, is now one step closer to becoming the first American woman to win Indian Wells since Serena Williams in 2001. Sabalenka, however, is eager for a rematch.

"She played great in Melbourne, and I didn’t play my best. I’m happy to have another shot at revenge," Sabalenka said.

Indian Wells Semifinal Matchups:

• Iga Swiatek (2) vs. Mirra Andreeva
• Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Madison Keys

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown in the California desert. Will Swiatek and Sabalenka stay on course for a final clash, or will Andreeva and Keys pull off upsets?

READ ALSO: American women determined to end Indian Wells title drought - Madison Keys