Angry Swiatek Dumped Out Of Indian Wells After Losing Heated Battle With Andreeva
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Iga Swiatek's Indian Wells Open title defense is over after Mirra Andreeva defeated her again in an epic battle that included the former WTA world No. 1 becoming unusually rattled and angry.
Swiatek tasted revenge in the quarterfinal by defeating Qinwen Zheng, over six months after the Chinese player defeated her at the 2024 Olympics. The 23-year-old hoped to do the same against Andreeva, who beat her in her 2025 Dubai Championships semifinal last month.
The five-time Grand Slam champion only lost 12 games in her eight sets at this year's tournament before the semifinal. She was sublime in those matches and a special performance was needed to beat her.
Andreeva entered her match against the Pole on a 10-match winning streak. That run included the win she got against Swiatek on her way to the title in Dubai and two victories against Elena Rybakina.
Although Andreeva played superbly to secure her maiden WTA 1000 title, the 17-year-old's level has arguably been even better in Indian Wells. She had not dropped a set in her four matches before facing Swiatek.
The teenager tried to put pressure on Swiatek from the start by choosing to receive, but the Pole responded by holding to love, making all her first serves in the opening game of the contest.
Both women found a good rhythm on serve in the opening six games, which was impressive in the windy conditions. By contrast, the pair found returning more challenging during the first half of the opening set.
Andreeva carved out the first break point chances of the match in the seventh game by going 40-15 up, but miscued a second serve return and then could not put a first serve into play before Swiatek held.
However, Andreeva responded to that disappointment impressively. She hit a sublime backhand down the line on her way to breaking for 5-4, leaving her serving for the first set.
Swiatek did not give up and Andreeva could not get it done during her service game. The defending champion in Indian Wells broke back and held her next game to take a 6-5 lead.
Andreeva looked like she might be wilting when she fell 0-30 down, leaving Swiatek two points away from the set, but recovered with some big serving and decisive hitting to take the set to a tiebreak.
With the wind behind her for the first six points of the tiebreak, Andreeva took full advantage by winning five of the first six points, rushing the WTA world No. 2 for time with powerful hitting.
Andreeva won the next two points to comprehensively win the tiebreak 7-1 and take the set 7-6. Swiatek left the court afterward with a notebook, something she often does after losing a set.
Interestingly, Swiatek's coach, Wim Fissette, told her to put more shape on her shots after the first point of the second set, which led to the four-time French Open winner responding angrily to the Belgian.
Instead of taking that advice, Swiatek played more aggressively after her opponent had been the more attacking in the opening set. That immediately worked and she broke to take an immediate advantage.
Andreeva never recovered from that start. Swiatek forced her into several forced errors with her relentless hitting from the baseline and swiftly confirmed a decider by securing the set 6-1.
After Andreeva left the court for a few minutes, the pair played a stunning first game filled with intense rallies and blistering winners before Swiatek blinked first to fall an early break down.
Andreeva also won a lengthy second game to take a 2-0 advantage. Swiatek threatened to break back at 1-2 down, but missed a volley at 30-0 up that proved crucial, allowing Andreeva to recover impressively.
That game also included Swiatek complaining to the umpire about something Andreeva was doing. However, it was difficult to hear what it was about because the fans booed the Pole for her annoyance.
A clearly rattled Swiatek received even louder boos in the next game after she hit a ball given to her by the ball boy back in their direction, which fortunately landed over him. The crowd then cheered deliberately loudly after Andreeva broke again to go 4-1 up.
Swiatek responded to the adversity with her best game of the contest, breaking to love with some unbelievable returning and hitting. She backed that up with a hold to reduce the deficit to 3-4.
Andreeva, wise beyond her years, did not let that impact her. The 17-year-old got a tough hold and then broke from 0-30 down to complete a 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 victory and a place in another WTA 1000 final.
