Andreeva eliminates Swiatek 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 for maiden Indian Wells final

Iga Swiatek from Poland was somehow the veteran in this penultimate blockbuster. The five-time grand slam champion just twenty-three years old, battled a new nemesis on Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Swiatek, a former number one currently ranked and seeded two, was a two-time winner and defending champion but two weeks ago in the quarters in Dubai, lost in straights to the Russian, Mira Andreeva. 

The teenage phenom just seventeen, captured her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai (d. Tauson) and heading into this semifinal was on a ten-match win streak. Following her triumph at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships she achieved a career-high rank of nine but is currently ranked #11.

This was their third tour-level meeting having split the previous two. Andreeva won the toss and elected to receive. Swiatek made 4/4 first serves and held at love while Andreeva opened with a forehand winner and an ace out wide for parity. 

Swiatek hit three winners and held at love for 2-1 while Andreeva missed 4/6 first serves yet held to 30 to level. Swiatek struck three consecutive winners including two aces and held to 15 while Andreeva struggled and faced deuce before leveling.

Swiatek continued to play with a sense of urgency and though she gifted a double fault, faced double break point and deuce, held when her opponent mishit the return.
Andreeva played with poise and patience. She hit two winners including another ace and held easily to 15 for 4-4. The reigning French Open champion made 4/6 first serves yet faced break point and dumped serve when she overcooked a crosscourt forehand. The teenager served for the set but gave back the break following two forehand errors and two blistering winners from Swiatek. 
The former world #1 ripped a backhand crosscourt and unfurled an ace up the tee to lead 6-5. Andreeva served to stay in the set and force the breaker. Although she opened with a double fault and donated another, she leveled at six with an unreturnable ace and a brilliant backhand down the line. 

Swiatek was outplayed and outmaneuvered in the tiebreak as Andreeva struck three winners including her fourth ace to take it 7-1 and in just under an hour, secured the set.  
Swiatek left the court following the conclusion of the tiebreak. Andreeva served first in the second and opened with a double fault. She faced double break point and dropped serve despite hitting two winners including another ace. 

Swiatek opened with an incredible inside-out forehand and held to 30 to consolidate the break. Andreeva opened the third with a fantastic forehand down the line and held to 30 with a sublime backhand drop shot. She would not win another game as Swiatek emphatically dictated play and secured the set in thirty-two minutes. 

Swiatek served first in the decider and following her third double fault, faced break point and dumped serve. Andreeva missed 4/8 first serves and faced deuce yet held to consolidate the break for 2-0. Swiatek appeared calm and confident as she opened the third with two consecutive winners and held easily to 15 to get on the board.

Andreeva missed 3/6 first serves but with two consecutive winners, held to 30 for 3-1. Swiatek gifted three unforced errors, faced triple break point, and dropped serve. Andreeva opened the fifth with an unforced error, faced triple break point, and gave back the break. 

Swiatek maintained an aggressive court position, struck her fourth ace, and consolidated the break for 3-4. Andreeva missed 4/6 first serves but with a remarkable crosscourt forehand, held to 30 for 5-3. Swiatek serving to stay in the match committed four consecutive errors to concede it. 

The defending champion was striving to be the first on the WTA Tour to win three titles in the desert; instead, she will head to Florida for the Miami Open. She has gone without a title since claiming her fourth French Open last May.

Andreeva continues to defy expectations and break records in making back-to-back finals at the 1000 level. Into her first title match in the desert, she will battle world #1 and 2023 Indian Wells finalist, Aryna Sabalenka. 

The beguiling Belarusian leads the head-to-head 4-1 including two straight-set wins to start the season. With a trophy, prestige, and 1000 ranking points on the line, it promises to be an entertaining and high-octane showdown between two elite and complete players.