World No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek has defeated Caroline Garcia in straight sets, securing her place in the Miami Open third round. This marks Swiatek`s second victory over Garcia in consecutive tournaments. The match concluded with a score of 6-2, 7-5 in 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Two weeks prior at Indian Wells, Swiatek dominated Garcia with a 6-2, 6-0 victory in just 61 minutes. In this Miami encounter, Garcia provided tougher competition, pushing Swiatek to rally from a 3-1 deficit and fend off a set point while serving at 4-5 in the second set. Despite the resistance, Swiatek demonstrated her resilience, claiming the final three games to extend her overall record against Garcia to 6-1.
Swiatek started strongly, winning the first 10 points of the match before Garcia managed to get on the scoreboard. However, after breaking serve to lead 1-0 in the second set, Swiatek surprisingly lost the subsequent three games, attributed to a series of unforced errors. Swiatek later mentioned a dip in her energy levels as a contributing factor.
In her post-match interview on court, Swiatek explained, “My energy level dropped quite rapidly. I focused on revitalizing myself, maintaining the intensity from the first set, and committing to my shots.”
Swiatek, the Miami champion of 2022, largely employed the same successful tactics from Indian Wells, despite the slightly different playing conditions in Miami.
She commented, “The strategy remained similar due to our comparable playing styles. However, the game dynamics do shift slightly. The ball tends to bounce lower here, and the air feels less dynamic. I find it necessary to prepare for a somewhat quicker game and maintain a lower stance.”
She added, “This adjustment applies to all opponents, not just Caroline. Overall, the difference wasn`t significant. The main variation was allowing her a slight comeback in the second set.”
This victory marks a significant milestone for Swiatek, making her the first player in WTA 1000 history since 2009 to win 25 consecutive opening matches at this level. This impressive streak began in Cincinnati 2021, where she was defeated in the second round by Ons Jabeur after receiving a first-round bye. Looking ahead in Miami, Swiatek is set to face No. 27 seed Elise Mertens in the third round. Mertens advanced by showcasing delicate drop shots in her 6-4, 6-1 victory over Peyton Stearns.
Rupert Caldwell