Iga Swiatek was crowned yesterday as the 24th different champion in the 46-year history of Indian Wells after winning the final with superiority (6-4 and 6-1 in 80 minutes) over Maria Sakkari. She succeeds Paula Badosa in the list of winners and is the first Polish winner of the tournament, second runner-up after Radwanska, who was in 2014. His triumph allows him to equal an achievement of his compatriot, being number two in the worldwhile the Greek is third in the ranking, also her best position.
At 20 years old, Swiatek has won five trophies (Roland Garros 2020, Adelaide 2021, Rome 2021 and Doha 2022). He has only lost one final, that of Lugano in 2019 against Hercog, and between WTA and ITF he has won 11 of 12. An admirer of Nadal, Iga is the leader of the year in victories with 20, followed by Sakkari, who has 16.
Up goes the racket again 🙆♀️
The first Polish woman to win the #IndianWells title!@iga_swiatek | @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/eWcH25aDHL
— wta (@WTA) March 20, 2022
“They say that the (glass) trophy weighs a lot and I’m afraid it will fall,” joked the winner, who added five breaks and only lost his service once. “We are united by solidarity with Ukraine”, she concluded, excited and nervous, at the award ceremony.
Results of the WTA 1,000 of Indian Wells.