<p>Iga Swiatek, ranked #1 in the world, defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1 on Friday to go to the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters final.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-514973″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/theindiaprint.com-iga-swiatek-defeats-marta-kostyuk-in-the-indian-wells-open-to-go-to-the-final-igas.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com iga swiatek defeats marta kostyuk in the indian wells open to go to the final igas” width=”1032″ height=”775″ title=”Iga Swiatek defeats Marta Kostyuk in the Indian Wells Open to go to the final 6″></p>
<p>After defeating 32nd-ranked Ukrainian Kostyuk in only 69 minutes, four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek—who also won the 2022 Indian Wells title—will play either third-ranked US Open champion Coco Gauff or ninth-ranked Maria Sakkari of Greece in Sunday’s championship match.</p>
<p>“I’m satisfied with the performance,” Swiatek said, without encountering any difficult moments. “It was probably the cleanest match I’ve ever played here,”</p>
<p>Swiatek has advanced to the championship match without losing a set, however, she had previously said that she needed to improve on a couple areas of her game.</p>
<p>She put Kostyuk on the run early, applying more pressure with her strength and accuracy, giving the impression that she had.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian, who was competing in her first-ever 1000-level semi-final, had lost the second set 3-0 after receiving treatment for her injured left foot.</p>
<p>As soon as play started up again, Swiatek wrapped up the match, winning her fifth break of Kostyuk’s serve with a winning service return.</p>
<p>Delays the Gauff-Sakkari Face-Off</p>
<p>However, rain stopped the women’s semifinal match between Greece’s Maria Sakkari and US Open winner Coco Gauff on Friday. Sakkari was leading the match by a set and would now face Iga Swiatek in the Sunday final.</p>
<p>Rain fell for the second time in the match when Gauff was serving at 15-15 in the first game of the second set, which was won by ninth-ranked Sakkari 6-4.</p>
<p>When light rain rendered it too slick to play in the eighth game of the first set, the players had already endured a 20-minute wait.</p>
<p>After play was restarted, Sakkari took advantage of the first serve break of the match to lead 5–4 and finished the set before further rain started to fall.</p>
<p>In the Sunday final, the victor of the match will face world No. 1 Swiatek. In the first semifinal, Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine was defeated by Swiatek 6-2, 6-1.</p>
Iga Swiatek defeats Marta Kostyuk in the Indian Wells Open to go to the final
