Iga Świątek or Maria Sakkari: Indian Wells winner to become world number two

Iga Świątek and Maria Sakkari will contest the women’s final at Indian Wells tomorrow, but it’s not just a WTA 1000 title at stake. The winner will rise up to world number two.

Świątek powered into the final after getting past former world number one Simona Halep 7-6, 6-4.

The Polish star extended her winning streak to 10 matches to make a second successive WTA 1000 final, having triumphed at the Doha Open last month.

Indeed, Świątek is one of the most in-form players around right now. Her victory over Halep was her WTA Tour-leading 19th win of 2022.

She will come up against Sakkari, who progressed into her first ever WTA 1000 final with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 result over defending champion Paula Badosa.

Świątek and Sakkari have played four times so far, with the Greek player racking up three victories, all last year and all in straight sets.

She was defeated by Świątek just last month, however, in the semi-finals of the Doha Open.

“She’s not the Iga that was a year ago,” Sakkari said, following her win against Badosa. “She has been playing very, very aggressive and I was actually very surprised with that change when I played her in Doha.

“I really respect her and I really like her because she’s a lovely girl and she’s very nice and whatever she has achieved she really deserves it. But on the other hand, I just have full faith and a lot of confidence in my game and in myself right now.”

Whoever wins the final will move up the world rankings past Barbora Krejčíková, who missed Indian Wells with an arm injury.

It would be a career-high ranking for both players – Świątek is currently at a career-high of number four, while Sakkari is at a personal best of number six.

Ashleigh Barty will remain world number one, despite skipping