Indian Wells 2022: 5 players who can take the trophy home (Female)

The prestigious Indian Wells 2022 is all set to begin its campaign. Several seeded and unseeded players are ready to fight for the honourable crown. However, only one can emerge as a winner. With World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and World No. 2 Barbora Krejcikova withdrawing from the tournament, it makes it easier for several players to take one step ahead and take the trophy home.

Therefore, here is a list of 5 players who are predicted to win the title.

#5. Anett Kontaveit

Anett Kontaveit has blossomed into a fantastic player since conquering the Cleveland Open in August 2021. She went on to win three more championships and reach the WTA Finals' ultimate clash.
Kontaveit had a strong start to her 2022 season, reaching the semifinals in Sydney. However, she enraged her fans when she let go of the Australian Open 2022 trophy from her hands after losing in the second round against Clara Tauson.

Aside from her loss at the Australian Open, Kontaveit has advanced to the finals of every tournament she has entered in the last few months. During this period, she has won five titles and finished as a runner-up twice. Given these factors, she is a strong contender for the Indian Wells championship in 2022.

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#4. Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari has taken her career to the next level over the last year, yet she has come up short on a few occasions. At the 2021 French Open, she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal, losing to Barbora Krejcikova despite having a match point. Sakkari subsequently went on to lose in the US Open semifinals and the WTA Finals. Her 2022 campaign was also not particularly successful, as she was eliminated in the second round of the Adelaide International. She then went on to lose the Australian Open in 2022, as well as the St. Petersburg and Qatar Opens.

You might be wondering why we included her on the list despite her poor performance during the year. Let us tell you something: Sakkari has a habit of faltering in the final stages of competitions. But, if she overcomes that obstacle, she will be able to take the trophy.

#3. Aryna Sabalenka

The World no. 3 Belarusian have been impressing fans for quite a long time. She began her 2022 season by making it to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open. Her duel against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia still sends shivers down people's spines. However, after three sets of thrilling contests, Sabalneka's journey was cut short.

Afterwards, she was dethroned by Iga Swiatek in the Quarterfinals of the Qatar Open. However, besides these all, Sabalenka has won one WTA 1000 title in each of the last four seasons: 2018 Wuhan, 2019 Wuhan, 2020 Doha, 2021 Madrid. Considering these, we can safely say that she is a strong contender for the trophy. Even if she doesn't win the championship, she could prove to be a formidable obstacle in the way of some of the top Seeds.

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#2. Jelena Ostapenko

Jelena Ostapenko had a rough start to the year, losing in the first round of the Sydney Tennis Classic to Paula Badosa. Afterwards, Barbora Krejcikova eliminated her in the third round of the Australian Open. Despite these, Ostapenko is on fire heading into this tournament. The Latvian has been to the semifinals of each of her previous three tournaments, and she just won the Dubai Tennis Championships. The 24-year-old defeated Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Petra Kvitova, and Simona Halep on her way to the title. That simply demonstrates how amazing Ostapenko's A-game is, and at these odds, it's difficult to dismiss her. When she's fully focused in the field, her strength can be unstoppable.

#1. Iga Swiatek

The French Open is notable for producing a variety of winners throughout different seasons. Nobody has been able to consistently win the tournament, except for one man Of course! Even so, passionate tennis fans were taken aback when they witnessed a 19-year-old defeat 1-time grand slam champion Sofia Kenin to win the trophy and take it home. With the poise of a veteran and the shots of a champion, 19-year-old Iga Swiatek inscribed her name in tennis fans' hearts.

She has maintained a high level of consistency in her performance since then, which is uncommon nowadays. Afterwards, from reaching the Semifinals of Adelaide international and the Australian Open 2022 to establishing her dominance over the Qatar Open, Swiatek has been in tremendous form. Also, with the top seeds Ash Barty and Barbora Krejcikova withdrawing from the tournament, she has an edge over everyone else to claim the trophy.

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