Irina Spirlea defeated Fang Li 7-5 6-2 in the Indian Wells round of 32 on hard. The result followed the form book — Irina Spirlea came in leading the head-to-head 1–0, defending last year's final. Irina Spirlea extended the head-to-head to 2–0.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-08-10 | Manhattan Beach | R32 | hard | Irina Spirlea | 6-0 6-2 |