INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Iga Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in just over an hour to win the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, with the world’s top-ranked woman losing just 21 games in six matches during the 12-day tournament.
Swiatek improved to 20-2 this year, with her wins leading the WTA Tour. She easily hoisted the 40-pound crystal trophy as the streamers cascaded onto the court.
It was a repeat of the 2022 final, in which Swiatek beat Sakkari 6-4, 6-1. Sakkari hasn’t defeated the Polish star since 2021.
“Hard to compare because I remember that last time I was coming as world number two,” Swiatek said in a Tennis Channel interview. “A lot has happened since then.”
Swiatek raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Sakkari recovered to win three straight games, including a break of Swiatek. She served a love game to tie it, 4-4. Swiatek lost just two points on her serve the rest of the set, wrapping it up with a forehand winner in the corner.
Swiatek was more dominant in the second set, breaking Sakkari three times all in love games.
She became just the third woman to win a 6-0 set in the Indian Wells final, along with Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport.
Swiatek hit 15 winners and had 11 unforced errors in the 1 hour, 8-minute match. She also won 76% of her first serve points and won five of the eight break points against Sakkari.
Sakkari had eight winners and 18 unforced errors.
“Sorry I couldn’t put on a better fight,” Sakkari told the crowd that included actors Charlize Theron, Tom Holland and Zendaya.
Swiatek earned $1.1 million for the victory, less than the $1.26 million she made in 2023. This year more prize money was allocated to the earlier rounds, reducing the champions’ prize money by nearly 13%.
