Iga Swiatek secures second Indian Wells title with dominant win over Maria Sakkari
By Ovaise Shariff | First Published Mar 18, 2024, 5:18 PM ISTWorld number one Iga Swiatek asserts her dominance on the tennis court, claiming her second Indian Wells WTA title with a commanding victory over Maria Sakkari in a rematch of the 2022 championship showdown.
Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked player, displayed her dominance on Sunday as she powered past Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 to clinch her second Indian Wells WTA title. This victory comes two years after Swiatek first triumphed over Sakkari at Indian Wells.
🌴🫶🏼 So, so proud of myself and the team. Thank you for the support and making me feel so comfortable in Tennis Paradise.
🌴🫶🏼Dumna z siebie i z całego zespołu. Dziękuję Wam za to, że tym "tenisowym raju" czułam się tak dobrze. pic.twitter.com/i2VjNWEb5B
The rematch of the 2022 championship showdown resulted in a similar outcome, with Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, asserting her authority in the second set to claim her 19th career title and her second of 2024. Sakkari, ranked ninth in the world, showed resilience in the opening set, battling to erase a break and saving two break points before Swiatek sealed the set with a powerful forehand winner after 44 minutes.
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Swiatek's momentum only grew stronger as she swiftly secured a 2-0 lead in the second set, ultimately breaking Sakkari at love and cruising to victory in just 24 minutes. Despite her commanding performance, Swiatek emphasized that her journey in the California desert was challenging, despite the seemingly straightforward scorelines.
Reflecting on her tournament experience, Swiatek expressed pride in her improvement throughout the event, highlighting the confidence gained from her recent successes, including a title win in Doha and a semi-final appearance in Dubai.
Swiatek's victory also solidified her status as one of the elite players in the sport, as she became the 10th woman to win the Indian Wells title twice, joining the ranks of legends like Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters. The 20-year-old attributed her success to diligent work and mental resilience, especially following her early exit from the Australian Open.
In the final against Sakkari, Swiatek showcased her aggressive style, securing an early lead and maintaining control of the match. Sakkari, despite her efforts to stay competitive, acknowledged the need for ultra-aggressive play against formidable opponents like Swiatek.
Reflecting on her missed opportunities, Sakkari lamented her struggles in capitalizing on key moments during the match, ultimately conceding defeat to Swiatek's relentless performance. She also cited the physical toll of her grueling semi-final encounter with Coco Gauff as a factor in her performance against Swiatek.
In the end, Swiatek's remarkable display of skill and determination secured her second Indian Wells title, underscoring her status as a dominant force in women's tennis.
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