Iga Swiatek can make Indian Wells history and match stunning Steffi Graf feat with US victories
Iga Swiatek Eyes Indian Wells History as She Targets a Record-Breaking Third Title
At just 23 years old, Iga Swiatek has already established herself as one of the most dominant forces in women’s tennis. With five Grand Slam titles to her name and a reign as the former World No. 1, she continues to be a formidable contender on both clay and hard courts. Now ranked No. 2 in the world, the Polish superstar is setting her sights on another milestone at the 2025 Indian Wells Open, where she could etch her name even deeper into tennis history.
A History of Success at Indian Wells
Despite being widely regarded as a clay-court specialist due to her four French Open titles, Swiatek has proven time and again that she is just as lethal on hard courts. Her prowess at Indian Wells—often called the sport’s “fifth Grand Slam”—is a testament to her versatility.
Swiatek first triumphed at Indian Wells in 2022, defeating Maria Sakkari in the final at just 20 years old. She returned in 2023, making it to the semi-finals before falling to eventual champion Elena Rybakina. However, in 2024, she reclaimed her title by once again beating Sakkari in the final, cementing her reputation as one of the tournament’s greatest competitors.
Now, at the 2025 edition, Swiatek has the opportunity to achieve something no woman has done in over three decades—winning back-to-back Indian Wells titles.
Chasing a Historic Third Title
Swiatek is already in elite company as a two-time Indian Wells champion, joining legends such as Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, and Martina Hingis. However, no woman has won three since the tournament’s inception, except for Martina Navratilova, who secured her titles in 1990 and 1991.
A victory this year would make Swiatek just the second woman ever to win three Indian Wells titles, and the first player in 34 years to win back-to-back championships at the event.
As the second seed, Swiatek will begin her 2025 Indian Wells campaign in the second round, where she will face either Caroline Garcia or Bernarda Pera. Given her head-to-head dominance over both players, she is expected to progress deep into the draw, possibly setting up showdowns with fellow top-ranked competitors.
A Shot at the Sunshine Double Once Again
Indian Wells is just the first stop in Swiatek’s American hard-court campaign, as she will soon head to the Miami Open, where the main draw begins on March 18.
Swiatek is no stranger to success in Miami, having lifted the trophy in 2022 after defeating Naomi Osaka in the final. That year, she also won Indian Wells, making her just the fourth woman in history to achieve the “Sunshine Double”—winning both events in the same season.
Only one woman, Steffi Graf, has ever done it twice, completing the feat in 1994 and 1996. If Swiatek can defend her Indian Wells title and claim another victory in Miami, she will join Graf in the record books as just the second woman ever to achieve multiple Sunshine Doubles.
Can Swiatek Rebound from a Mixed Start to 2025?
While Swiatek remains one of the most consistent players on tour, 2025 has been a challenging year so far. She suffered a United Cup final defeat to Coco Gauff, followed by an Australian Open semi-final exit at the hands of Madison Keys.
She showed flashes of brilliance in Doha, reaching the Qatar Open semi-finals, but was stopped by Jelena Ostapenko. A quarter-final loss to rising star Mirra Andreeva in Dubai further added to her inconsistent start.
However, Indian Wells presents the perfect opportunity for Swiatek to reassert her dominance. A strong showing in California could set the stage for a historic run in Miami, boosting her confidence ahead of the remaining Grand Slam events later this year.
With history on the line and another chance to stamp her authority on the WTA Tour, all eyes will be on Iga Swiatek as she takes to the courts at Indian Wells 2025. Can she become the first woman since Navratilova to defend her title and make history? Time will tell.