Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek destroys Marta Kostyuk for potential final with Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek, the tournament’s top seed, effortlessly defeated Marta Kostyuk with scores of 6-2, 6-1, propelling herself into the finals of the Indian Wells on a breezy Friday evening.

This victory not only showcased Swiatek’s dominance on the court but also kept her in contention for her second championship title of the year.

At just 22 years old, the Polish powerhouse is potentially set for a riveting showdown against Coco Gauff, the U.S. Open victor, provided Gauff overcomes Maria Sakkari from Greece in their upcoming semi-final match.

Swiatek, who previously clinched the 2022 title, signaled her aggressive game plan from the get-go, securing an early break to lead 2-1.

Her relentless pressure soon paid off again as Kostyuk, succumbing to the intensity, committed a double fault, allowing Swiatek to swiftly wrap up the first set within 31 minutes.

The ordeal didn’t end there for the 21-year-old Ukrainian, Kostyuk, as she faced Swiatek’s formidable play right at the onset of the second set. A stunning smash by Swiatek earned her another break, and despite some resistance from Kostyuk, now ranked 31st, Swiatek surged ahead to a 3-0 lead.

Kostyuk’s challenges were compounded by a left foot injury, necessitating a medical timeout. However, this brief interlude did little to change the course of the match.

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, continued her march towards victory, marking her 19th win of the season with a decisive forehand winner, further cementing her status as the world number one and a formidable force on the WTA Tour.

Cleanest match I played here: Swiatek on semis win

Swiatek called her win over Kostyuk as the cleanest match she played at the Indian Wells this year.

“For sure I’m happy with the performance. I think it was the cleanest match I played here. It’s already a great tournament,” Swiatek said.

When it came to her final opponent between Gauff and Sakkari, the Polish star said she has no preference as such and she expects a tough summit clash.

“There’s no preference,” she said in reference to her potential final competitors. “It would be stupid for me to say anything. Both of them are really great and experienced so they are going to be fighting today and fighting in the final, no matter who is going to be there.