Swiatek comprehensively defeats Sakkari to win second Indian Wells title
Iga Swiatek dominated Maria Sakkari in the Indian Wells final, defeating the Greek 6-4, 6-0 to claim her eighth WTA 1000 title
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Iga Swiatek won her eighth WTA 1000 title at the BNP Paribas Open in fine style on Sunday, racing past Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in Indian Wells in what was a replay of the 2022 final.
The Pole was tested early on by one of only four players that holds a winning record against her. However, the top seed responded beautifully, winning eight games in a row to close out the match and win her second Indian Wells title.
With the win, the 22-year-old improves her winning percentage in Indian Wells to 90 percent and draws level with Maria Sharapova for the fifth-most WTA 1000 tournaments won.
“It’s just amazing to be standing here again,” said Swiatek after the win, her second title in three years at Indian Wells.
Swiatek starts and finishes well in opening set
Swiatek did what she’s done so well time and time again over the past three years and began this final at breakneck speed. In the blink of an eye, the Pole was ahead 3-0, and there was little Sakkari could do about it.
At 0-3, 0-30, the Greek began finding her range just in the nick of time. Sakkari held serve for 1-3, before uncharacteristic errors came from Swiatek’s side and the No 1 seed tightened up slightly, dropping her own serve. Soon, we were back on serve and locked at 3-3.
Minutes later, at 4-4, it seemed as though this final was well and truly on and could be going down to the wire. Little did anyone realise that Swiatek would go on to win 18 of the next 21 points and not drop another game all match.
Showing why she’s won 18 titles on the WTA Tour, the 22-year-old held her own serve before racing out to 0-40 on Sakkari’s to create three set points. Again, the Greek did well to come from behind on her own serve, fending off the first two break opportunities. However, the third set point was a bridge too far, and Swiatek sealed the opening set 6-4 to put one hand on the Indian Wells trophy yet again.
Bagel factory activated
Come the start of the second set, it was unfortunately déjà vu for Sakkari. Just like the first set, Swiatek held then broke to love, finding herself ahead 3-0 in a matter of minutes.
“I don’t know what to do,” Sakkari was heard saying to her coach between games, with the desperation written over her face as the smell of fresh bread wafted on the air.
Down three break points at 0-3, 0-40, unlike the first set, Sakkari was unable to claw her way back into this one. She quickly fell behind 0-4, then 0-5, before finally succumbing to the bagel and losing the second set 6-0.
“Thank you all for coming today, sorry I couldn’t put on a better fight,” Sakkari said after the match. “You’re an incredible champion, congrats to you and your team, you’ve really created something special.”
Next up, Swiatek will look to complete the Sunshine Double for the second time, with the Pole also winning the Miami Open in 2022.
