By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 18, 202
Avid reader Iga Swiatek speaks several languages and is fluent in the art of world supremacy.
Applying her all-court skills, Swiatek sped through eight straight games dismissing Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 in the BNP Paribas Open final to capture her 19th career championship, including her second Indian Wells crown in the last three years.
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Swiatek became the first top seed since Victoria Azarenka in 2012 to win Indian Wells.
It’s been two years since Swiatek succeeded the retired Ash Barty as world No. 1.
As she celebrates her 94th week at the top of tennis, Swiatek shared how it feels to be world No. 1 in her post-final presser at Indian Wells.
“I would say you just feel like your game is better than anyone out there,” Swiatek said. “Obviously it’s not for granted that you’re going to win because of that, but you feel like you have skills and you have everything to be able to, you know, present your best game.
“I mean, because of that, I don’t expect, like, it’s going to happen all the time, but I just know that it’s somewhere there and I need to make the best work to put it out there.”
The reigning Roland Garros champion improved to a WTA-best 20-2 on the season and raised her impeccable finals record to 19-4.
Now, Swiatek sets her sights on sweeping her second Sunshine Double in the last three years.
The top-seeded Swiatek will face either compatriot Magdalena Frech or hard-hitting Italian Camila Giorgi in her Miami Open opener.
Swiatek is one of four women—Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka are the other three—to complete the Sunshine Double.
The 22-year-old Pole said she feels comfortable with world No. 1 next to her name and target on her back, but expects her confidence will be tested at times by the inevitable ebbs and flows of a tennis career.
“I mean, there are going to be ups and downs still, so I don’t expect I’m always going to feel comfortable with pressure,” Swiatek said. “Sometimes it hits harder; sometimes it doesn’t hit at all.
“I wouldn’t say that at some point I felt comfortable and that’s it, now I’m going to be comfortable till the rest of my career.”
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