World no. 2 tennis player, Iga Swiatek, has fiercely responded to critics claiming her victory streak at Indian Wells is exclusively due to the court’s slow surface. The Polish athlete has remained steadfast in dismissing these comments as “nonsense.”
Despite only making her debut at the tournament in 2021, Swiatek has already managed a remarkable 20-2 record and has clinched two titles. It’s clear that she thrives in the desert environment, but critics are quick to attribute her success to the slower hard-court conditions at Indian Wells.
Undeterred by these accusations, Swiatek has stormed into her title defense this year with convincing victories over Caroline Garcia (6-2, 6-0) and Dayana Yastremska (6-0, 6-2), establishing a round-of-16 showdown with Karolina Muchova.
Swiatek was quick to point out the flawed logic behind attributing her victories solely to the slower surface. The two-time Indian Wells champion emphasized, “it’s never only about the surface. I could also play to the fence and not win here on the slower surface. Honestly, you can say that about any win at any surface that any player has. It doesn’t really make sense.”
While acknowledging the role the surface plays in her success at Indian Wells, the 23-year-old emphasized that it’s not the sole contributing factor. She insists that the real credit should go to her focus and willingness to accept mistakes that may occur due to the dry desert air. Additionally, she appreciates the bonus of the tournament being a two-week event, providing her ample preparation time.
Swiatek stated, “the surface helps, sure, but it’s not the only thing. You still need to do the job. I’ve always been pretty focused here and also accepting the mistakes that are gonna happen in this dry air. It wasn’t like I was rushed anywhere.”
The next challenge for the Polish champion is a clash against Muchova, marking their fifth professional encounter. Intriguingly, this will be a rematch of the 2023 French Open final. Swiatek leads their head-to-head record 3-1 and has emerged victorious in both of their hard-court showdowns. This matchup promises to add another exciting chapter to their growing rivalry.