Iga Swiatek Focused on Advancing in California
Following her commanding victory over Karolina Muchova with a score of 6-1, 6-1, Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek is laser-focused on her future as a professional athlete. This victory has secured her a place in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, allowing her to move past a challenging spell she faced in the Middle East.
After decisively overcoming Muchova, Swiatek expressed that she has put behind her the setbacks that marked her return to competitive play after a suspension at the end of 2024. This period not only affected her momentum but also led to a drop from the top of the world rankings and drew various criticisms, similar to the challenges faced by Jannik Sinner in the men’s circuit.
“Everyone gets upset when they lose. I was expecting better results in Doha and Dubai. In tennis, it’s crucial to move on and focus on the future, and I believe I have done this quite well. I don’t expect to win every tournament. After Dubai, we had more time to train,” stated the world number two.
In her impressive win, Swiatek did not allow her opponent to settle into a rhythm on the California courts, boosting her confidence in dictating play during matches, just as she did against Muchova. “I felt I could take control from the start and I didn’t make many errors,” she added.
Meanwhile, the match between Elina Svitolina and Jessica Pegula was suspended due to rain, having already entered the third set after each player claimed a set.
In the men’s draw, Holger Rune triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas with a straight sets victory of 6-4, 6-4 in a match that lasted just 1 hour and 28 minutes. Following this impressive win, the Norwegian, currently ranked 13th in the world, will face Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-finals.
Prior to Rune and Tsitsipas’ clash, Griekspoor had edged past Japanese Yosuke Watanuki, winning 7-6, 6-1, solidifying his status as a breakout star of the Californian tournament, which will crown a new champion this weekend.