Elena Rybakina won last year’s tournament by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final and will be the favorite in 2024. However, it will not be easy for the Kazakh player, as many players could pose a threat to her.
First quarter:
Ranked players: (1) Iga Šwiątek, (6) Ons Jabeur, (10) Elena Ostapenko, (15) Ekaterina Alexandrova, (17) Veronika Kudermetova, (18) Madison Keys, (25) Donna Vekic, (26) Linda Noskova.
Expected quarter-finals: Iga Swiatek against Ons Jabeur.
Analysis: Iga Swiatek will start the tournament against Danielle Collins or the winner of the qualifiers. Next, the Pole will likely face Linda Noskova in the third round and will have to avenge her defeat at the 2024 Australian Open.
Iga will then likely face Madison Keys or Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round and should defeat either of these two to advance to the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
In the other half of this quarter are sixth seed Ons Jabeur, tenth seed Jelena Ostapenko, 17th seed Veronika Kudermetova and 25th seed Donna Vekic. There are some stars from the past in Venus Williams and Angelique Kerber.
Most likely, it will come down to a match between Jabeur and Ostapenko for a place in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open. Although Ostapenko looked in good shape, Jabeur had a significant break before the tournament and if she stays fit she could reach the quarterfinals.
Prediction for the quarter-finals: Victory for Iga Swiatek over Ons Jabeur.
Second quarter:
Ranked players: (4) Elena Rybakina, (7) Marketa Vondrushova, (12) Beatrice Addad Maya, (13) Jasmine Paolini, (21) Anna Kalinskaya, (22) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, (28) Anastasia Potapova, (31) Marta Kostyuk.
Expected quarter-finals: Elena Rybakina vs. Marketa Vondrousova.
Analysis: Defending champion Elena Rybakina is in this quarter and should easily reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, where she will most likely meet Dubai’s reigning champion Jasmine Paolini.
Rybakina withdrew from the match against the Italian in Dubai, but given her level of play, she should be able to defeat the Italian and reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
In the other half of this quarter are 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Beatrice Addad Maia, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Marta Kostyuk. Vondrousova reached the quarterfinals in Dubai, and here she will also be able to reach the fourth round.
Next, the Czech will meet Addad Maia and will be the favorite in this confrontation.
Rybakina and Vondrushova will likely face off in a battle for a semifinal spot, and Elena’s composure could lead to her victory over Marketa.
Prediction for the quarter-finals: Victory for Elena Rybakina over Marketa Vondrushova.
Third quarter:
Ranked players: (3) Coco Gauff, (8) Zheng Qingwen, (11) Daria Kasatkina, (14) Lyudmila Samsonova, (19) Sorana Cirstea, (24) Elise Mertens, (27) Victoria Azarenka, (32) Angelina Kalinina
Expected quarter-finals: Coco Gauff vs. Daria Kasatkina
Analysis: Coco Gauff was given the third seed and her form over the last 6-7 months should allow her to reach the fourth round without problems. Here she will most likely have to meet Lyudmila Samsonova, although tennis players such as Naomi Osaka and Elise Mertens should not be ruled out. The American can defeat the Russian and reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
On the other side of the group are Daria Kasatkina, Zheng Qingwen and Victoria Azarenka. However, it is very likely that everything will depend on Kasatkina and Zheng fighting for a place in the quarterfinals. Even if the Chinese has achieved some good performances in recent months, notably at the Australian Open where she reached the final, the Russian has a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Gauff and Kasatkina are expected to have a thrilling match and the former’s good form, along with public support, will see her reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Predictions for the quarterfinals: victory for Coco Gauff over Daria Kasatkina.
Fourth trimester:
Ranked players: (2) Arina Sabalenko, (5) Jessica Pegula, (9) Maria Sakkari, (16) Elina Svitolina, (20) Caroline Garcia, (23) Emma Navarro, (29) Leila Fernandez, (30) Dayana Yastremska.
Expected quarter-finals: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula.
Analysis: Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be the clear favorite to win the BNP Paribas Open 2024 and reaching the fourth round should not be a problem for her as players like Emma Raducanu, Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Peyton Stearns are clearly weaker.
Next, the Belarusian will most likely face 16th seed Elina Svitolina and is expected to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
On the other side of the table are Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Leila Fernandez and Caroline Garcia. Pegula could face Karolina Pliskova and Leila Fernandez en route to the fourth round.
Here she will most likely face Caroline Garcia or Maria Sakkari. The American is likely to beat either of these players and should advance to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Sabalenka and Pegula are expected to meet in the quarterfinals, and while the American could beat the Belarusian on her best day, Arina, at her best, should be able to win and advance to the semifinals in Indian Wells.
Prediction for the quarter-finals: Victory for Aryna Sabalenka over Jessica Pegula.
Predictions for the semi-finals and final:
The first scheduled semi-final will be between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina in a rematch of the 2024 Qatar Open final.
Swiatek got the better of Jelena in Doha, but she has already beaten Iga and could do it again if she is in better shape.
The second semi-final will take place between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff and it is expected to be a tough fight. Although Gauff will have crowd support, Sabalenka’s energy should help her beat the American and reach her second consecutive final at the BNP Paribas Open.
Planned end: Elena Rybakina against Arina Sabalenka.
Predicted winner: Elena Rybakina.
Vyacheslav Gorbachev/Athletistic
Source: Sport
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
