Emma Raducanu crashed out at Indian Wells, as World No 1 Iga Swiatek continued her title defence with a 6-3 6-1 victory on Tuesday.
Swiatek came under pressure early in the opening set but some clean ballstriking helped her hold for a 3-2 lead after two tight service games. She raised her level further to break Raducanu in the next game before pulling away.
Having wrapped up the first set when Raducanu sent a shot long from the baseline, Swiatek grabbed an early break in the second to heap the pressure on the Briton, whose unforced errors began to mount.
Swiatek, bidding to become only the second female player to successfully defend the Indian Wells title after Martina Navratilova in 1990-91, raced to a 5-1 lead playing flawless tennis and running her opponent ragged.
The U.S. Open champion closed out the win when Raducanu struck the net on serve in a tame end to her fine run in the Southern California desert.
Swiatek has now set up a quarter-final clash against unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
Raducanu, who has overcome a wrist injury and illness, failed to build on her victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia – a win which ranks as her best since her 2021 US Open triumph.
