Iga Swiatek ‘proud’ to setup rematch of the 2022 Indian Wells final
Iga Swiatek will bid for her second Indian Wells title on Sunday, when she takes on Maria Sakkari in a rematch of the 2022 final.
Swiatek produced a dominant victory in her semi-final against 31st seed Marta Kostyuk, beating the Ukrainian 6-2 6-1.
And the Pole described it as her ‘cleanest match’ so far in California, “For sure I’m happy with the performance. I think it was the cleanest match I played here. It’s already a great tournament.
The four-time major winner continued this sentiment in the press conference, “Well, for sure I’m proud of myself and really excited. I think it was a great match for me today. I have all positive vibe[s].”
89.5 – Making her second final, Iga Swiatek (89.5%) is now level with Steffi Graf for the highest win rate in the women’s singles at Indian Wells, since the event’s inauguration in 1989 – min. 15 matches. Absurd.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @iga_swiatek @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/QcEy39VPqB
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 16, 2024
A resurgent Sakkari, who had won only one of her five matches prior to Indian Wells, will be the opponent of Swiatek in the final.
The 28-year-old beat home favourite Coco Gauff in a rain interrupted semi-final last night, and Sakkari spoke to the media after the match about how quickly fortunes can change.
“We always say in tennis one day can change everything, but a month ago I was in Abu Dhabi, I couldn’t hit a ball over the net, and now I’m just here in one of the biggest tournaments playing another final,” said the WTA No.9.
“Those are lessons and those are things that you have to just accept the more you’re on the tour that you’re going to have some bad times, and then things can really change in a week.”
Swiatek beat Sakkari in straight sets in the final two years ago, but it is actually the Greek who has the advantage in their head-to-head.
Inside the baseline…
It is somewhat of a surprising final really in terms of Maria Sakkari being there, however she just seems to love the conditions in Indian Wells after reaching at least the semi-finals in the last three years. Although the Greek has the better in the head-to-head over Iga Swiatek, the 2022 Indian Wells final was actually the last time they played and the world No.1 will be the huge favourite going into tomorrow’s final.
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