Elena Rybakina defeated Marta Kostyuk 6–4, 6–4 in the Indian Wells R16 on hard court, confirming her status as pre-match favourite with odds of 1.29 to Kostyuk's 3.57. The Kazakhstani delivered a composed performance to advance, securing both sets with a single break in each and maintaining control throughout. Rybakina's clinical execution ensured there were no dramatic momentum shifts, with Kostyuk unable to mount a sustained challenge despite competing in the second set until the final games. The result keeps Rybakina on course in the Masters 1000 event and reinforces her positioning as a serious contender for the title.