Iga Swiatek’s bid to become the first Polish player in history to win the BNP Paribas Open is gaining momentum after she crushed Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, who is the highest seed remaining in the women’s draw, required less than an hour to brush aside her American rival 6-1, 6-0. The world No.4 won 84% of her first service points as she broke Keys in five out of her six service games in what was her most one-sided win of the season so far.
“I think it was a great performance from me. I think it was my best match here. For sure it was a little bit easier to find my rhythm when it was a little bit colder,” Swiatek said during her press conference.
“That was on my advantage. I think I just was really focused and consistent.”
Her dominant display is a stark contrast to her other matches in the tournament this year. Prior to the quarter-finals, Swiatek had to come back from a set down three times in a row to beat Anhelina Kalinina, Clara Tucson and Angelique Kerber. This year is only the second in her career the 20-year-old is playing in Indian Wells after reaching the fourth round in 2021.
Reflecting on her run so far, Swiatek believes her ability to come back from the brink of losing is due to a change in her mental approach to the game in recent months. Drawing inspiration from that of world No.1 Ash Barty who is set to return to action next month on the clay. Barty pulled out of Indian Wells due to fitness concerns.
“Right now I’m more focused on finding solutions and I want every match to be a lesson for me,” she explains.
“I think Ash Barty has this kind of mindset. When she feels like the match is really tight, she treats it like a great experience because she can find solutions, actually be focused on that. It’s a great challenge for her.’
“I’m also trying to find fun when I’m playing, when the score is pretty tight.”
Next up for Swiatek will be Simona Halep, who is through to the semi-finals in Indian Wells for the fourth time in her career. Halep, who has dropped just one set in the tournament so far, breezed past Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1. The Romanian is bidding to win her second Tour title of the season after Melbourne and her first WTA 1000 event since Rome 2020.
“It’s going to be a little more difficult. She’s very solid. She’s consistent. It will be a tough battle. But it’s a new day, a new match. I’m expecting a tough one,” Halep said of playing Swiatek.
Swiatek leads Halep 2-1 in their head-to-head. In their last meeting at the 2021 Australian Open she came back from a set down to win.
