Elena Rybakina survives push from Marta Kostyuk to reach Indian Wells fourth round
Elena rybakina faced a late challenge from Marta Kostyuk but advanced to the Indian Wells fourth round after a match in which Kostyuk pushed her hard. The result moved Rybakina past the second phase of the tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and left Kostyuk’s comeback from recent injury on display.
Elena Rybakina pushed by Marta Kostyuk at Indian Wells
Elena Rybakina was tested by Marta Kostyuk, who forced extended rallies and moments of tension on court. The headline that Rybakina was “pushed by Kostyuk, but prevails to reach Indian Wells fourth round” captures the sequence: Kostyuk produced resistance, and Rybakina closed out the match to move into the tournament’s next stage. The match registered as one of the late battles of the day at Indian Wells.
Marta Kostyuk’s return after ankle ligament damage
Marta Kostyuk entered the match having returned from ankle ligament damage that kept her out of action for the entirety of February. Her season earlier had carried momentum: she defeated three top-10 players in a row to reach the Brisbane International final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. Kostyuk then lost in the first round at Melbourne to Elsa Jacquemot despite serving for the match and having a match point, and the penultimate game of that match is where she suffered the ankle injury. She had not been in action for over six weeks before this appearance at Indian Wells.
Indian Wells fourth round and the wider tournament movements
Rybakina’s progress arrived amid several notable results on Day Six. Iga Swiatek advanced comfortably, while Jessica Pegula rallied in her match as Mirra Andreeva fell. Mirra Andreeva was captured in a tense moment after her loss to Katerina Siniakova, an exchange that drew attention during the day’s play. On the men’s side, the day included an ATP round-up that noted Carlos Alcaraz rallying past Arthur Rinderknech, Michelsen ousting Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic surviving a test.
That mix of outcomes shows how the Indian Wells schedule is delivering a blend of established stars moving through and returning players testing themselves. For Kostyuk, the match against Rybakina was another step in a return to regular competition after the injury-enforced break. For Rybakina, it was a confirmation that she can withstand pressure from in-form opponents and still advance in the draw.
Elena rybakina will now be listed among the players occupying a place in the fourth round at Indian Wells, a confirmed next stage from the result on this day. The tournament continues to sort contenders for the deeper rounds, and Rybakina’s victory returns the focus to how she will fare as the field narrows.
