It promises to be an entertaining final at the WTA Indian Wells Open in ‘tennis paradise’ with world #1 Iga Swiatek set to take on a resurgent Maria Sakkari. Both players will no doubt be keen to make their mark in the desert and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction for the final in California. But who will come out on top?
WTA Indian Wells Final Prediction
Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: Sakkari 3-2 Swiatek
It probably hasn’t been the start to the season that Swiatek was hoping for, but the Pole has shown why she is the world’s best this week. After a first-round bye, the Pole opened her campaign with a comprehensive win over former-Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, losing just three games to the American. She backed that up with another dominant display against young gun Linda Noskova, winning 6-0 6-4 to book her spot in the last 16.
Swiatek scored another comfortable win there against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, advancing a 6-1 6-2 winner to set up a quarterfinal clash with Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane made a match of it in the first set but retired trailing 4-6 0-1 which sent Swiatek into the semifinals where she faced 31st seed Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian came into the match in fine form but could not hold a candle to Swiatek who won 6-1 6-2 to close in on her second title of the season.
(FanDuel)
Sakkari, seeded ninth at the WTA Indian Wells Open, began her campaign in the Californian desert with a 5-7 6-4 6-0 win over Diana Shnaider after a first-round bye. She backed that up by getting the better of Caroline Garcia in straight sets to set up a fourth-round clash with Garcia’s compatriot Diane Parry. Sakkari won 6-2 3-6 6-3 before beating the in-form 23rd seed Emma Navarro after a three-set battle to earn a shot at third seed Coco Gauff in the last four.
The Greek looked to be on course for a statement win after winning the first set and breaking Gauff’s serve in the second. She went on to earn three match points, but the American did not waver, saving them all and then winning a second-set tiebreak to force a decider. Gauff had her chances early on, but could not take them with Sakkari breaking and then forcing another match point. At the fourth time of asking she made no mistake, wrapping up a 6-4 6-7 6-2 win.
The Greek has put together an excellent week, delivering a timely reminder of why she was once ranked as high as third in the world. That said, at times she has also struggled to deliver her best tennis when in the ascendancy, allowing opponents back into the match. Thus far she has gotten away with it, but Swiatek may well punish those lapses. It should be a competitive match, with Sakkari having won three of the previous five, but expect Swiatek’s focus and iron-clad nerves to prove the difference.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Main photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
