World No 1 and tournament favourite Iga Swiatek cruised into the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a demolition job against Marta Kostyuk on Saturday.
Swiatek was in frightening form from the start as she dominated her 21-year-old opponent from Ukraine to win 6-2 6-1 and reach her second WTA 1000 final of the year.
“For sure I’m happy with the performance. I think it was the cleanest match I played here. It’s already a great tournament,” said Swiatek, who has won 30 out of her last 32 matches.
“There’s no preference,” she said in reference to her potential final competitors. “It would be stupid for me to say anything. Both of them are really great and experienced so they are going to be fighting today and fighting in the final, no matter who is going to be there.
“It’s going to be tough anyway.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Marta Kostyuk appeared to be struggling with a foot injury, but then smacked an incredible forehand winner against Iga Swiatek
Swiatek needed just 45 minutes to build a set and a break lead against the world No 32 who started her first career semi-final at WTA 1000 level.
Kostyuk received a medical timeout after appearing to jar her foot on the court, and despite carrying on, it was the relentless Swiatek who completed victory after 69 minutes.
The Pole did not face a break point in the match, and only dropped 10 points on serve.
Swiatek will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari on Sunday when she will bid for her 19th career title.
Henman: Swiatek playing with margin for error
“Swiatek was just different class,” Tim Henman told Sky Sports Tennis. “She really dominated proceedings and gave Kostyuk no chance to settle.
“Her ball-striking from the back of the court was phenomenal and she looks like she’s playing down the line – hitting the ball so hard and so early but still with margin for error. It was a great performance.”
Navratilova: Iga firing on all cylinders
“She’s a great front-runner,” said Martina Navratilova. “That’s when the players need to stay close to her at the beginning of the match because when she gets going it’s really hard to stop her momentum and then she grows in confidence.
“I think she’s added a bit of top-spin to that backhand – I just have a feeling because it seems safer. But she’s just firing on all cylinders right now and when she gets ahead, watch out!
“Once she gets ahead, good luck!”
Tale of the Tape
How to watch play on Sky Sports Tennis
The stars of tennis will appear on the new Sky Sports Tennis channel every day
Sky Sports has confirmed a new home for tennis in the UK and Ireland, with Sky Sports Tennis on Sky and NOW, making tennis content available all day, every day for fans.
Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from more than 80 tournaments a year on the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as full coverage of the US Open, all exclusively live.
Non-Sky subscribers can stream live matches with a NOW Sports Day and Month Membership, via Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Arena, and Sky Sports Mix channels.
For further access, fans will also be able to follow their favourite players and gain deeper insights from both Tours via Sky Sports News, the Sky Sports app, on SkySports.com and via Sky Sports social channels.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!
You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
+ There are no comments
Add yours