Elliott: Iga Swiatek adds to her impressive season by winning Indian Wells title

Iga Swiatek’s first try at lifting the BNP Paribas Open trophy was a no-go. The crystal sculpture was too heavy, its form too cumbersome for her to boost it off the desk the place it sat gleaming within the Sunday afternoon solar.

Swiatek raised her index finger to the gang, as if to inform the followers who had been celebrating her overcome Maria Sakkari to attend a second, she’d give it one other strive. It required a full-body effort, however the 20-year-old from Poland ultimately obtained a great grip and held up the winner’s prize, a scene that’s positive to play out many times over the subsequent decade or extra.

“My thoughts is blown,” she mentioned of her 6-4, 6-1 victory, however it made excellent sense for the lady who has studiously improved her recreation and relied on a sports activities psychologist to assist fortify her psychological method since she shocked the tennis world by profitable the 2020 French Open as an unseeded entry.

Swiatek, who will earn $1,231,245 for her work at a match that’s thought-about a notch under the 4 Slam occasions, has gained 11 straight matches. She’s 20-3 this season, essentially the most wins on the ladies’s tour. That features incomes a title at Doha, Qatar final month earlier than she got here right here, the place she defeated three-time Grand Slam singles champion Angelique Kerber within the spherical of 16 and two-time Slam singles champion Simona Halep within the semifinals earlier than she prevailed over a below-peak Sakkari.

“Properly performed. You’re an ideal champion, an ideal particular person,” Sakkari informed Swiatek throughout the trophy ceremony. “You deserve this — you deserve extra.”

Swiatek will rise to No. 2 on the earth rankings Monday behind Ashleigh Barty of Australia, matching Agnieszka Radwanska for the very best rating achieved by a Polish participant. She appears the one particular person shocked by that.

“Initially of the match, I wouldn’t even take into consideration profitable, truthfully. In fact, it’s a must to consider in your self, however I’m a sensible particular person, so,” she mentioned, leaving her thought unfinished.

“Yeah, for positive, particularly profitable after enjoying so nicely in Doha is giving me a number of confidence and sort of perception that I can do it as a result of, I wouldn’t consider myself as somebody who’s able to play two tournaments in a row and win it. For positive onerous work is paying off. Yeah, I imply, I felt for the couple of days the strain on my shoulders somewhat bit extra due to the stage of the match, and clearly how massive it’s. As you’re saying, it’s the most important match after Grand Slams. The final couple of days have been actually tense for me. That’s one more reason why I’m pleased with myself that I made it.”

Although Indian Wells is named tennis paradise for its lush environment and relaxed ambiance, the gusty winds Sunday created situations that had been lower than blissful.

Each ladies struggled to carry serve within the first set, exchanging breaks till Swiatek held for 3-2. Swiatek broke Sakkari’s serve within the subsequent recreation, capped by a double fault by Sakkari, and took a 4-2 lead. Sakkari broke Swiatek and held serve for the primary time to make it 4-4, however Swiatek gained the subsequent recreation when Sakkari netted a return. Swiatek gained the set on her third likelihood, when Sakkari hit a backhand into the online.

Sakkari saved two break factors within the second recreation of the second set however couldn’t maintain off Swiatek within the fourth recreation. Sakkari sabotaged her personal probabilities by double faulting twice in that recreation to permit Swiatek to take a 3-1 lead. Swiatek, hitting a snug stride, gained one other break for 5-1 and clinched the match on a forehand winner.

“I actually consider I took a step ahead this week, regardless that I misplaced at this time,” mentioned Sakkari, the highest-ranked Greek girl within the historical past of the ladies’s tour. “It was per week that can have a particular place in my coronary heart. I do know it sounds sort of bizarre as a result of I didn’t win the match, however I felt like I improved.”

Swiatek’s subsequent problem — apart from lifting the lighter reproduction trophy she’s going to obtain — is to do that over again. She’s entered within the Miami Open this week, and expectations might be excessive. “Each match is a distinct story,” she mentioned.

Most of hers have had comfortable endings. Many extra will sooner or later.