Iga Swiatek defeated Maria Sakkari, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells.
There she will meet Czech player Karolina Muchova, who defeated Anna Bondar and Antonia Ruzic in her first two matches.
Aryna Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek… who do you prefer? 🤔
After her win against Sakkari, Swiatek compared Muchova to tennis legend, Roger Federer.
Iga Swiatek says ‘smooth’ Karolina Muchova is like Roger Federer
During her latest post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked the following question.
- “You have had success against your next opponent, Karolina Muchova. What do you expect from that match?
In response, Swiatek shared her thoughts on Muchova, comparing her to the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“Well, the way you started that question, I don’t want to expect that, because yes, like the head-to-head might be to my side, but I can remember all these matches I played against her, sometimes I was down, like, break in [the] third, you know,” she said.
Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Indian Wells – 4R | Iga Swiatek | Karolina Muchova | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2025 United Cup – RR | Iga Swiatek | Karolina Muchova | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2023 Canadian Open – 3R | Iga Swiatek | Karolina Muchova | 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 French Open – F | Iga Swiatek | Karolina Muchova | 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 |
| 2019 Prague Open – 1R | Karolina Muchova | Iga Swiatek | 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
“She’s an amazing player, and most of the times we played really tight matches.
“It’s going to be tough, and I’m ready for the battle.
“Honestly, I love playing against her. I also love watching Karolina [Muchova].
“Yeah, it’s just nice to see someone who plays so smart and so smooth. She’s like a woman’s Roger [Federer].”
Swiatek leads the head-to-head with Muchova, 4-1, but was forced into a deciding set in their first three meetings.
She did, however, pick up a dominant win against Muchova in the fourth round of Indian Wells last year.
Whether she can repeat the feat in 2026 remains to be seen…
How is Karolina Muchova similar to Roger Federer?
Swiatek compared Muchova to Federer, but just how similar are the two players?
Muchova plays with a two-handed backhand, whereas Federer used a one-handed backhand, so there’s one difference straight away.
There are some similarities, though, including the way Muchova uses variety in her game.
What would have happened if Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played at the same time as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
The 29-year-old mixes up slices and drop shots, much like Federer did back in his heyday.
She’s also not afraid to approach the net in the same way as Federer.
The biggest difference between Federer and Muchova is, of course, their career achievements, although she is certainly trending in the right direction!
Karolina Muchova has had a better year than Iga Swiatek
Yes, it’s early, but three months into 2026, Muchova has been better than Swiatek.
The Czech star won her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Open and currently sits sixth in the ‘Live WTA Race’, ahead of Swiatek.
Live WTA Race
- 1. Elena Rybakina – 2,563 points
- 2. Jessica Pegula – 2,095 points
- 3. Elina Svitolina – 1,920 points
- 4. Aryna Sabalenka – 1,920 points
- 5. Victoria Mboko – 1,617 points
- 6. Karolina Muchova – 1,555 points
- 7. Mirra Andreeva – 1,248 points
- 8. Coco Gauff – 1,045 points
- 9. Amanda Anisimova – 1,010 points
- 10. Iga Swiatek – 915 points
That could all change after Indian Wells, though, depending on how both players perform.
If Swiatek knocks out Muchova in the fourth round and goes on to win the title, she’d jump above the Czech in the ‘Race’.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious in California, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Swiatek will play Muchova in the fourth round of Indian Wells on Wednesday, March 11.
