Indian Wells: Swiatek to face Sakkari in title match

Iga Swiatek will play for her second BNP Paribas Open title on Sunday after beating No.31 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in Friday’s semifinals, 6-2, 6-1.

Swiatek needed just about three quarters of an hour to build a set and a break lead in her second tour-level meeting against the Ukrainian — who started her first career semifinal at WTA 1000 level or high erratically by making 15 unforced errors in the opening set. Kostyuk received a medical timeout after dropping serve for a fourth time in the match in the third game of set two, during which she appeared to jar her foot on the court surface at one stage, and though she continued the match, Swiatek eventually put a bow on victory after 69 minutes on court.

Swiatek will face No.9 Maria Sakkari in Sunday’s final. The match is a rematch of the 2022 Indian Wells final, which Swiatek won 6-4, 6-1.

Swiatek is the first No.1 seed to reach the Indian Wells final since Serena Williams in 2016. The last No.1 seed to win the title was Victoria Azarenka in 2012.

No.9 Maria Sakkari advanced to her second BNP Paribas Open final after defeating No.3 Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 in Friday’s semi finals match to reach final.

Sakkari will play in her fourth WTA 1000 final and second at Indian Wells on Sunday. She will face World No.1 Iga Swiatek in a rematch of the 2022 final, which Swiatek won 6-4, 6-1. This will be the first meeting since that 2022 final. Sakkari leads the head-to-head 3-2, but Swiatek has won their last two meetings in straight sets.