Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Indian Wells

Prediction published on 19/03/2022, 08:48  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/03/2022 at 12:30 in Tennis Predictions

Two in-form players meet in the Indian Wells women's final. Third seed Iga Swiatek bids to win a second tournament in a row as she faces sixth seeded Maria Sakkari. Swiatek has earned more ranking points than any other female player this year. Swiatek won in Doha last time out and has now won 10 successive matches. It's been a strange journey to the final for her though. Her first three matches saw her lose the first set but then easily win the next two to progress. The last two rounds though have seen her get out of that habit with straight sets wins over Madison Keys (losing just one game) and then Simona Halep in her semi-final. These two players have met on four previous occasions. Sakkari won the first three (without dropping a set) but Swiatek finally beat her with a straight sets win in the Doha semi-finals.

Like her opponent, Maria Sakkari has been ultra-consistent of late. The Greek world number six lost to Anett Kontaveit in the final of the St Petersburg Ladies' Trophy and then to Swiatek in the Doha semi-finals. Now she's in  her second final of the year. Sakkari made it to the semi-finals without dropping a set (her fourth round opponent Daria Saville retired after just five games) but then had to go to three sets to get past defending champion Paula Badosa. The middle set was the one lost but Sakkari then won the third set 6-1. This is another match that may well go three sets but Swiatek has all the confidence here, especially after recently beating her opponent in Doha. Go for Swiatek to win this title for the first time.