Two years later, Maria Sakkari and Iga Sviontek they meet tonight (20:00, Novasports 6) again in the Indian Wells final. The Greek champion, who is ranked ninth in the world, will be looking for it excess against Poland, who is ranked No. 1 and had denied her the title in 2022 by comfortably defeating her in the California desert with 6-4 and 6-1.
Their two seasons in 2021 and 2022 saw five battles in a 10-month span, with Sakkari winning three times but losing the most recent two. The last time the two met, Swiotek was on a 37-match winning streak that would not end until she lifted the second of three Roland Garros trophies in June 2022. Since then, the Pole has claimed another major title – bringing her tally to four – and has held the No.1 chart for a total of 94 weeks.
Sakkari, with a 2-7 record in WTA Tour finals, has a tough task against her 22-year-old opponent who is 18-4 in finals, but she will chase her chances and if she succeeds she will shoot to No. 6 in the world list. The beneficial effects of the change of coach are already evident, with David Witt, ex of Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula, has helped the 28-year-old champion raise the level of her tennis. “This is our first tournament. I think we’re getting along really well – I think together we can build something really good. He obviously has incredible experience on the tennis side. Mentally, I just feel like he’s very, very relaxed. This is what I really like. He is so funny I just enjoy my time with him on and off the court“, he said.
Sviotec, however, she seems almost invincible in the desert. He has dropped just 17 games in five matches, an average of just 3.4 per match – as he reaches his second BNP Paribas Open final in three years. Still just 22 years old and sporting a 17-2 record at Indian Wells, the Pole is looking to create an unparalleled legacy at the BNP Paribas Open. Against Sakkari, she will bid to become the tenth woman to claim multiple singles titles in the California desert, as no woman has won more than two.
The winner will secure $1.1 million in prize money, while the loser will collect $585,000.
Sakkari’s previous nine finals:
San Jose 2018: Buzarnescu-Saccari 6-1, 6-0
Rabat 2019: Sakkari-Konda 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
Ostrava 2021: Kontaveit-Sakkari 6-2, 7-5
Saint Petersburg 2022: Kontaveit-Sakkari 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5
Indian Wells 2022: Sviontek-Sakkari 6-4, 6-1
Parma 2022: Sherif-Sakkari 7-5, 6-3
Guadalajara 2022: Pegula-Sakkari 6-2, 6-3
Washington 2023: Goff-Sakkari 6-2, 6-3
Guadalajara 2023: Saqqara-Doleheid 7-5, 6-3
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