The streak continues! After winning the tournament in Dubai, the Polish tennis player is now racing like a storm in the tournament played on the other side of the globe, in the American Indian Wells. The Polish woman defeated her first rivals in a good style: Kalinina (5: 7, 6: 0, 6: 1), Tauson (6: 7, 6: 2, 6: 1) and Kerber (4: 6, 6: 2, 6) : 3), so she quite confidently reached the semi-finals, where a representative of the hosts Madison Keys was waiting for her.
Certain victory for Iga Świątek. Promotion to the semi-finals and a record place in the WTA Live ranking
It was supposed to be the most difficult challenge for Iga Christmas at this tournament, because Madison Keys is in a very good condition this season. She recently triumphed in the 250 competition in Adelaide, and in Indian Wells she coped with her rivals very confidently. The reality, however, turned out to be completely different and the Polish woman managed to deal with the American in just 57 minutes, triumphing 6: 1, 6: 0.
By defeating the Madison Keys, Iga not only made it to the Indian Wells semi-finals, but also arguably a second place in the WTA rankings. In the latest ranking, the Polish woman can overtake the Czech woman and be right behind the Australian Ashleigh Barty who has been leading for a long time.
For our tennis player, it would be by far the highest position she has ever occupied in the world ranking. Until now, she was ranked highest in fourth position. Thus, the 20-year-old would equal the record of Agnieszka Radwańska, who was so far the highest-ranked Polish woman in history.
In the WTA Live ranking, Polka is second with 5166 points. However, it all depends on Maria Sakkari (5th WTA) and Paula Badosa (7th WTA), who will fight today for promotion to the semi-finals. Both tennis players may be placed second in the event of a victory at Indian Wells. The Spaniard (a maximum of 5,400 points) will lose this option if Swiatek advances to the final (then she will have 5,426 points), but Sakkari will still remain in the game (5,435 points if she wins). Both players can hit the Polish woman only in the final.
It may turn out that the issue of triumph in the entire tournament and the position of the vice-leader in the ranking will be decided in the final between the Polish and the Greek. First, however, it must be decided who will play in the second semi-final pair. In the quarter-finals, Sakkari is facing Elena Rybakina (20th WTA), and Badosa is facing Weronika Kudermetowa (24th WTA). The worst-case scenario would, of course, be the promotion of both favorites.
In the semi-finals in Indian Wells, Iga Świątek will face a Romanian (WTA 26th) who smashed Croatian Petra Martić (WTA 79) 6: 1, 6: 1. This match is to be played at night from Friday to Saturday, Polish time.
Source: Sport
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