Antonia Ruzic stuns Zheng in the 2nd round to play vs Muchova

HIGHLIGHTS: Ruzic defeats Zheng 6-4 7-5 to advance to the 3rd round

Mar. 8, 2026 at 6:42am

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Antonia Ruzic shocked Qinwen Zheng 6-4 7-5 in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Saturday. Ruzic will now face Karolina Muchova in the 3rd round after the 1 hour and 54 minute match.

Why it matters

Ruzic's upset win over the higher-ranked Zheng is a major boost to her tournament hopes, as she looks to advance deeper into the draw at Indian Wells. The match also highlights the unpredictability of the women's game, where any player can pull off a surprise result on a given day.

The details

Ruzic was not as effective as Zheng in converting break point opportunities, converting just 44% (4/9) compared to Zheng's 22% (2/9). However, Ruzic was able to break Zheng's serve in key moments to take the victory. The match was closely contested, with Ruzic winning just 1 more point overall than Zheng (75-68).

  • The match took place on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Antonia Ruzic

A Croatian tennis player competing in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Qinwen Zheng

A Chinese tennis player who was defeated by Ruzic in the 2nd round of the Indian Wells tournament.

Karolina Muchova

A Czech tennis player who Ruzic will face in the 3rd round after defeating Zheng.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Ruzic will face Karolina Muchova in the 3rd round on Monday, March 10, 2026.

The takeaway

Ruzic's upset victory over the higher-ranked Zheng demonstrates the unpredictable nature of women's tennis, where any player can pull off a surprise result on a given day. Ruzic's performance has boosted her tournament hopes as she looks to advance deeper into the draw at Indian Wells.