‘Whoa, it’s pretty crazy!’ – Iga Swiatek sinks Maria Sakkari to seal back-to-back WTA 1000 titles

Iga Swiatek is now 20-3 in 2022 after claiming consecutive WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Indian Wells, defeating Maria Sakkari in the final in the desert.

The 2020 Roland Garros champion had one WTA 1000 trophy to her name entering this year but has already tripled her tally by winning in Qatar and California.

Swiatek downed Sakkari 6-4, 6-1 in the final, confirming that she will achieve a new career-high of world number two next week.

“Whoa, it’s pretty crazy because I wasn’t expecting to be in this place honestly,” she said in her trophy acceptance speech.

“Especially after playing so well in previous tournaments, I didn’t know it was possible for me to play so well for so long.”

By becoming world number two next week she matches Agnieszka Radwanska as the highest ranked Polish singles player ever on the WTA or ATP tour.

Radwanska peaked at second in the rankings back in July 2012 after her run to the Wimbledon final, losing to Serena Williams there.

While Sakkari will be disappointed not to have won she too will enjoy a new career-high of third up from her previous best of sixth.

That means that Sakkari joins compatriot Stefanos Tsitsipas as just the second Greek, man or woman, to be ranked among the top five players in the world.

Former world number four Greg Rusedski said after Swiatek’s victory: “What a moment, she didn’t think she was going to win this week.

“But the tennis we saw from her all week, she is a deserving champion.

“She’s been by far the best player.”

This Indian Wells title is still only a fifth tour level trophy for 20-year-old Swiatek but includes three 1000 titles and a Slam triumph.

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