Indian wells 2022: Iga Swiatek becomes the first Polish player to lift the trophy

In a windy Indian Wells 2022 final, the Polish teen sensation Iga Swiatek upset Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4 6-1, climbing up to number two in the world rankings. Swiatek has won her last two matches against the Greek. Thus, she extended her WTA match-winning streak to 11 games.

Swiatek, 20, won her second WTA 1000 title in a succession with a powerful forehand winner. She took six of the nine breaks, including two in a one-sided second set.

With four consecutive service breaks, the final of Indian Wells 2022 got off to a rocky start. Swiatek, despite the challenging conditions, was the first to adjust, holding to go 3-2 up and broke Sakkari to take a one-set lead.

Sakkari was never able to unwind and relax during the competition. Swiatek held service to start the second set, but then it was all Swiatek as she swept the next five games.

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"It was a different contest"- the champion's words after lifting the Indian Wells 2022 trophy

Swiatek, who won the WTA 1000 event in Doha in February, said, "It's very crazy because I wasn't expecting to be in that place (final), especially after playing so well in the last tournament; I didn't know I could play so well for that long." "Because of the weather, it was a different contest. You always want to see the best possible final, but in these conditions, as I mentioned, it was quite difficult to play tactically as I wanted, so in the end, I was just concentrated on playing in."

Nonetheless, Swiatek will wake up on Monday as the new world number two and the first Polish player to lift the trophy, and while she acknowledges it's strange, she's already preparing her sights on Ash Barty and the top place.

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"To be honest, it's too bizarre to convey right now," Swiatek added. "However, I am certain that I want to get higher. Because I believe that attaining number one is getting closer and closer."

"Without a doubt, Ash is one of the players I'm interested in studying," stated the champion whilst concluding.