Indian Wells Open 2024: Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :March 16, 2024 at 7:26 PM

Modified at :March 16, 2024 at 7:26 PM

(Courtesy : Daily Pioneer/Relevant Tennis)

Their meeting will be a rematch of the 2022 edition final.

World No. 1 and 2022 Indian Wells champion Iga Swiatek will meet the ninth seeded Maria Sakkari in the title clash of Indian Wells Open 2024. Swiatek will play for her second BNP Paribas Open title after beating Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in Friday’s semifinals, 6-2, 6-1. Swiatek improves to 19-2 this season and leads the WTA tour on match wins. This is now her second final in three years.

While it hasn’t been the best start for Swiatek this season – she suffered a third-round exit at Melbourne to Czech teen Linda Noskova, won at Qatar, followed by a semi-final loss to 40th-ranked qualifier Anna Kalinskaya in Dubai.

The World No. 1 has quickly pulled her socks up. After a first-round bye, the Pole scored a comprehensive win over Danielle Collins, losing just three games to the American. She put on another dominant display against Linda Noskova, booking her spot in the last 16 with a 6-0 6-4 win.

In her quarter-final match against Caroline Wozniacki, the Dane appeared to be making a match of it but retired with the score of 4-6, 0-1, sending Swiatek into her second consecutive semi-final.

The Pole will face World No. 9 Maria Sakkari in Sunday’s final in a rematch of the 2022 Indian Wells final. Swiatek prevailed on that occasion with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

Sakkari, seeded ninth at the WTA 1000 event, began her campaign with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 win over Diana Shnaider after a first-round bye. She got the better of two French players, Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry, to set up a quarter-final clash with Emma Navarro. She defeated the in-form Navarro and US Open champion Coco Gauff – both games in three sets to set up her first meeting with Swiatek this year.

Maria Sakkari advanced to her second BNP Paribas Open final after slugging it out against a gritty Gauff to earn a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 win in the semifinals on Friday.

Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari preview

World No.1 Iga Swiatek faces a resurgent Maria Sakkari in Sunday’s Indian Wells Open 2024 final. The Greek player arrived in California with new coach David Witt, to whom she can attribute her reversal in fortunes.

Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open final will be a rematch of 2022 summit clash. Swiatek brushed off Marta Kostyuk, while Maria Sakkari emerged from a late-night thriller against Coco Gauff on Friday.

Both Swiatek and Sakkari have reached the finals in their last two of three Indian Wells Open appearances. The two players also reached the semi-finals last year. Swiatek’s early rounds mirrored her 2024 Australian Open draw, but she arrived unscathed to her summit clash without dropping a set.

Maria Sakkari will have Emma Navarro to thank for knocking out World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, giving her an easier path to the final. Navarro defeated the 2024 Australian Open winner in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 5

Maria Sakkari – 3

Iga Swiatek – 2

Sakkari leads in the head-to-head 3-2, but it is Swiatek who has won their last two encounters – both times in straight sets. The previous occasion was in 2022 at the Indian Wells finals, which went in the Pole’s favour. Had Maria Sakkari won last season’s final, she would have reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2

Maria Sakkari is also in her first final since reaching the final at the Guadalajara Open last September. The Greek player last won against Swiatek in the WTA finals round one in 2021.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari, Indian Wells Open 2024 final match in India?

The women’s singles summit clash between two-time Indian Wells finalists Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari is scheduled for March 17, Sunday, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. The time for the final is yet to be decided.

Indian tennis enthusiasts can follow the climax of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open women’s singles on the Sony Network. This network offers both televised broadcasts and a live streaming option via SonyLiv.

Tennis TV also provides comprehensive coverage of the final. The streaming platform also allows viewers to revisit their favourite Indian Wells moments on demand, with replays and highlights of past matches available in high definition.

Prediction

It promises to be an entertaining final for fans as the Indian Wells Open 2024 gets underway on Sunday. Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari will meet in tennis paradise for a winner-takes-all summit clash. Both players will no doubt be looking to leave their mark in the first of the Sunshine Double events.

The Greek stitched together an excellent week, showcasing the talent that helped her rise to a career-high No. 3 on the WTA rankings. At times, she falters, unable to push her advantage like in Qatar. Sakkari lost her round of 32 match-up against Linda Noskova despite winning the first set 6-3 in the Doha capital.

While she has got away with it in Indian Wells thus far, Swiatek will be far less forgiving in punishing those lapses. A competitive match is likely, but expect Swiatek, with her iron-clad focus and strong nerves to pull through.

The World No. 1’s winning percentage of service games – 82% dwarfs Sakkari’s 71.6%. This and Swiatek’s superior percentage of return games won – 46.0% to Sakkari’s 37.8% can be expected to turn the tide in the Polish star’s favour.

Result: Iga Swiatek to win in three sets.

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