Indian Wells,
Sunday, 17 March, 2024
World Number one (1) Iga Swiatek sealed her crown at the Indian Wells Open – tennis’ unofficial ‘fifth major’ – with an impressive victory over Maria Sakkari on Sunday afternoon.
The Unstoppable Swiatek won 6-4 6-0 on Sunday afternoon, winning the tournament for the second time in her career. She now turns her attention to completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Miami.
It was her 20th title of her career without dropping a single set across the tournament.
The world No.1 – fast approaching an unbroken two years at the top of the rankings – only hit the tournament mark for six hours on court during the first set on Sunday, having breezed through to the final. Sakkari, as if she needed another disadvantage, had racked up almost double the playing time.
Swiatek, the fresher woman, predictably raced into a 3-0 lead, before Sakkari held her serve to claw one back and begin to show signs of troubling her illustrious opponent.
The Greek then impressively broke Swiatek and levelled proceedings at 3-3, and again bit back to 4-4. Ultimately, though, the Polish sensation went up a gear and clinched the first set 6-4.
Swiatek showed her supreme quality in nearly every rally, wearing down the world No.9 and closing up every suggestion of light at the end of the tunnel.
An utterly demoralised Sakkari looked helpless in the destructive final game.It was a ruthless display to dismantle Sakkari 6-0 in the second set, the end of which came just over 20 minutes after the first, to scoop her $1.1 million prize with what looked like relative ease.
“It’s amazing. Congrats to Maria. You are one of these players always fighting, going through ups and downs.You are going to achieve great things together with your team.
I want to thank my team, for every little thing we work on, which ends up working. For sure we’re going to celebrate – many things to celebrate.” Swiatek said.
The 22-year-old Polish becomes the first No.1 seed to lift the Indian Wells title since Victoria Azarenka 12 years ago, and in a year’s time will aim to become the first woman ever to win the unofficial ‘fifth major’ three times.
Immediately in her sights is the Miami Open this coming week, with Swiatek having previously won the ‘Sunshine Double’ in 2022.