Iga Swiatek maintained her lead over her competitors on the WTA tour by securing the Indian Wells championship for the second time. She dominated Maria Sakkari, who was seeded ninth, with a score of 6-4, 6-0. This is Swiatek’s second WTA 1000 title of the year, following her victory in Doha last month.
Since Serena Williams held the top ranking, no WTA player has achieved as many major titles as the current leader at such a rapid pace. The 22-year-old has claimed a total of 19 titles, including eight WTA 1000 titles, four grand slam titles, and her first WTA Finals victory in the previous year. Her remarkable record in finals remains strong, as she has won 19 out of 22 since her initial loss in 2019.
In recent years, winning 80% of their matches has been a strong indication of a player’s sustained excellence. Notable players such as Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams have all achieved this level, but some have seen a decline in their success in the latter years of their careers. Swiatek currently holds a tour-level win-loss record of 216-53, which is precisely 80% successful.
The Pole has proven to be skilled and successful in winning important titles, showing consistent performance. Furthermore, her matches often result in dominant and unbalanced outcomes.
With her pace and weight of shot off both wings, her smothering returning and athleticism, many of the best players in the world have no answer to her game when it is in full flow.
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In typical finals fashion, Swiatek began the match aggressively hitting powerful shots and strategically aiming winners from all areas of the court. Initially, Sakkari did an excellent job keeping up with her, using her own excellent athleticism to both retrieve as many shots as possible and to challenge her opponent by approaching the baseline.
From 4-4 in the opening set, though, Swiatek reestablished her baseline dominance, raising her level again and she blazed through the next eight games to take the title.
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Although she lost in the final on Sunday, this was still a successful tournament for Sakkari. In the past few months, she struggled with confidence on the court and her career seemed to be at a standstill. However, she made the bold choice to end her partnership with her longtime British coach, Tom Hill, and has now teamed up with David Witt, who recently parted ways with Jessica Pegula. Sakkari’s performance in the past two weeks is proof that their collaboration is paying off.
