Iga Świątek Claims Second Indian Wells Title with Dominant Performance against Maria Sakkari
Poland’s number one tennis player, Iga Świątek, showcased her superior skills once again as she defeated Maria Sakkari in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, winning with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 scoreline. This marks Świątek’s second title at the prestigious tournament and her fourth WTA 1000 triumph of the year, following her victory at the Qatar Open in February.
Świątek, who is only 22 years old, has now won a total of eight WTA 1000 titles and four Grand Slam titles in her career. Her impressive run at Indian Wells saw her lose only one set throughout the competition and just 21 games in total.
The Polish superstar had a disappointing start to the season, getting knocked out by Linda Nosková in the Australian Open third round. However, she has since bounced back with six consecutive WTA final victories, extending her career record to 19-4.
Reflecting on her performance at Indian Wells, Świątek expressed her pride and happiness. “I’m really proud of myself,” she said in a post-match interview with the WTA. “I’m super happy. Even though this tournament looked easy from the outside, it wasn’t from beginning to end. I’m glad I could improve during the tournament and gain a lot of confidence.”
In the 2022 Indian Wells final, Świątek bested Sakkari in similarly impressive fashion, clinching the title with a 6-4, 6-1 victory. The opening set in this year’s rematch was a closely contested affair, but the second set saw Świątek take control and cruise to victory.
A gracious Sakkari acknowledged her defeat, saying in an on-court interview with the BBC, “I’m sorry I couldn’t put up a better fight. It was pretty quick for you guys, but credit to Iga. You’re an amazing player, a very good person and an incredible champion. You really do deserve the best. Your team has created something incredible. I’m really hoping we can play a lot more finals.”
As she sets her sights on the upcoming Miami Open, Świątek will aim to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ – claiming both Indian Wells and the Florida tournament in succession – for the second time in her career.
