rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Defending champion Iga Swiatek and world number one Aryna Sabalenka hope to avenge their biggest defeats of 2025 in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals. On Friday, the Pole will take on Mirra Andreeva, the young Russian who beat her 6-3 6-3 in the Dubai quarterfinals last month. The Belarusian top seed is seeking redemption for the 2025 Australian Open final, which she lost to Madison Keys 3-6 6-2 5-7.
Sabalenka fired up to avenge Australian Open defeat
The Belarusian top seed isn’t dwelling on past disappointments—instead, she’s using them as fuel. After cruising past Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 6-3 in the quarterfinals, she told media that the January defeat was only coming to her mind as motivation to get back that revenge:
It was a tough match. She played great there. I didn’t play my best and I’m really happy that tomorrow I will have opportunity to get this revenge back.
Having reached the semifinals without dropping a set, Sabalenka is in top form. The prospect of a quick rematch with Keys is exactly what drives her competitive spirit:
That’s why I love sports, because if you’re not giving up, if you’re working hard, life will bring you opportunity to improve the mistake you did in the last match.
Keys’ confidence at an all-time high
The lone American semifinalist, Keys, arrives with confidence soaring after dismantling Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Reflecting on her dominant start to the season, she acknowledged how much belief she’s gained:
I think the reality of winning as many matches as I have this early in a season hasn’t ever really happened for me, so I think there is definitely a lot of confidence from all those wins under your belt. I think it kind of gives me the confidence to, in really tight situations, just continue to go for kind of whatever I want to.
Swiatek’s silent revenge
Since her Dubai loss, Swiatek has not dropped a single set. The world No. 2 punched her ticket to the semifinals by overcoming Zheng Qinwen, a player who had defeated her at the Olympics. Even before knowing Andreeva would be her next opponent, Swiatek made her mindset clear:
I want to show myself and everybody that I can do it. I already knew before the Olympics match and I know now, it’s not nice to lose to anybody. For sure you want to have a little revenge, but it’s nothing personal. I think every player has that against everybody who they lose before.
Andreeva credits her sports psychologist
After beating Elina Svitolina 7-6 6-3, world No. 11 Mirra Andreeva opened up about the role her sports psychologist has played:
I can say that it helped me a lot to realize a lot of things and to change something in the way I think during the match or before the match. Also, it helps me to go in the match with the right mindset, and I think that that was kind of the key for me. I can say that it’s working. I’m super happy that I can see the result.
More than anything, the teen was excited to tell the media about a puppy she plans to adopt soon, as a reward from her mother for reaching the Top 20 last year:
It’s going to be a labrador mixed with poodle, and it’s ultra mini, so going to be even smaller than a mini version.
Both women’s singles semifinals will be played Friday. Similar to Thursday, the forecast calls for cool temperatures, a chance of rain showers, and strong winds that are typically amplified at court level in the 16,100 seat stadium.
