How Serena’s withdrawal affects Indian Wells draw

Serena Williams withdrawal from Indian Wells has shuffled the pack in terms of the draw.

Karolina Pliskova, who was previously in the second quarter of the draw, has replaced Serena at the top of the draw. That means the Czech star now faces a potential second round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig, and could face either Elina Svitolina or Garbine Muguruza in the quarterfinals.

One player Pliskova now doesn’t have to worry about until the final (if they can get that far) is Caroline Wozniacki. The in-form former world No.1 moves out of the top half of the draw and drops into the bottom half.

On paper this looks to have benefitted the Dane, who has moved out of a tricky quarter and in to a bottom half where Madison Keys is likely to be her most challenging opponent.

Dominika Cibulkova has now been moved in to the top half of the draw, and faces a significantly trickier route to the final. The Czech, who has been struggling with form of late, could face Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, Daria Kasatkina in the third and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, Madison Keys replaces Cibulkova in the bottom half of the draw, and Daria Kasatkina becomes the No.33 seed (giving her an automatic place in the second round).

The first round of WTA action starts on Wednesday in Indian Wells.