Iga Swiatek is the world No. 1 and won the Sunshine Double last year–back-to-back 1000-point titles in Indian Wells and Miami. For good reason, Swiatek is a considerable favorite to triumph once again at the BNP Paribas Open.
The top-seeded Pole has been dominant at times in the early stages this season, but she lost to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open fourth round and is coming off a 6-4, 6-2 setback at the hands of Barbora Krejcikova in the Dubai final. Swiatek can’t be considered an absolute lock to triumph in the desert.
If she does falter, here are three other contenders who could lift the trophy.
Coco Gauff
Gauff has not yet won a Grand Slam or a Premier 1000-point tournament. She’s not exactly overdue at 18 years old, but considering she’s been thought of as a contender for a while now it’s time for her to get going. That time could be now. Gauff may not be on fire at the moment, but she on the side of the draw opposite Swiatek and she is at least playing well to take advantage of conditions in Indian Wells that are perfect for her game.
Victoria Azarenka
At 33 years old, Azarenka actually isn’t that far past her prime. In fact, she just made it to the Australian Open semifinals. She also finished runner-up in Indian Wells only two years ago (17 months, to be exact, since it was in the fall in 2021). Moreover, Azarenka is a two-time champion of this tournament. She is in a relatively soft quarter of the bracket and would not run into Swiatek until the semifinals. The Belarusian is 50/1 to win the BNP Paribas title, which is absolutely outrageous. She should be among the favorites.
Maria Sakkari
As featured on Break Point, Sakkari made an impressive run to the Indian Wells final last season before succumbing to Swiatek. Can the Greek go all the way this time? Why not? She recorded back-to-back semifinal performances in Linz and Doha last month and has a favorable Indian Wells draw opposite Swiatek (also would not face Gauff until the semifinals).
who ya got?
Thanks, Ricky!
Can we have a WTA thread from you at the 1000-point level and GS? I will be thrilled and won’t touch your ATP threads with WTA posts 😀
Iga Swiatek is not a lock. That is true.
Barbora Krejcikova would be my second pick.
Maria Sakkari, Vika, and Coco Gauf are dangerous – I’ll even add Pegula.
Also, a healthy Bianca or Ons.
Iga has so many points to defend that defending Miami and all those other titles, including Roland Garros, doesn’t feel likely. I hope Iga can protect a lot of those points, at least enough to keep her in the top ten where she belongs.
I’ve gone for Barbora over Iga. She’s been injured but hopefully healthy and confident. Got Ons going quite deep too, like her so much.
Sweet pick, Margot. The last time I watched Barbora, she lifted the winner’s trophy, and I was happy for her.
There are one or two I don’t like.
Ricky, if you see Marta Kostyuk, give her a big hug and a peck on the cheek from me!
(Just Kidding) But you might tell her she has a huge fan (Elizabeth), and I love her fighting spirit. I have followed her since she came on my radar at AO when she was 15. 🙏🤗
Iga swept the floor with Clair Lu, which was tough to watch.
Many of my bracket picks lost. Especially painful was Vika, Samsonova, and Bencic losing. Swiatek is still having to blow her nose at every chance she can. At this point, I suspect she has allergies. If she got sick in Doha an entire month ago, having a common cold would be a long time.
Iga plays Bianca next and could be a tough match if Bianca is healthy. Bianca Andreescu is a tricky one.
Teichmann beat Belinda Bencic yesterday. That had to feel good for the #2 Swiss.
Sakkari lost the first set to Kalinina, and Sakkari appears to be in control of the 2nd set. It’s good tennis 😀
Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like to see players get bagels, even when the bagel comes from a favorite, the #1 WTA player.
Does anyone out there love WTA?
Yes but time difference makes watching in Europe almost impossible. Had to miss Andy’s match 🙁
Oh, Margot, my above post was not aimed at you, and I know you follow WTA and have a passion for it. And you regularly play the brackets! My appreciation for you runs deep.
On the weekends, I get to watch matches Live, and mostly I wait until watching them on my DVR. This morning I watched Petra Kvitova get a win over Pegula, and I am watching Emma try to keep up with Iga.
I hope Emma does not have a Delpo wrist, but she was shaking her right hand like I do when I feel numbness and tingling. Emma was playing great in the first set but couldn’t keep that level up in the second
set. She has what it takes to be WTA #1 and spend time in the top ten rankings if she remains healthy.
Petra had me in tears with her win because she had been considering retiring. And she says, I should just go for it if I can win like this!
I do. Come and join us : women tennis forum. We are debating Sabs and Ryba tomorrow. The poll is 50-50 😆😆
Thanks, Dragy; I will check the Women’s tennis forum out 😀
Great🙂
Looks as if Raducanu is finding her mojo. Hope she can manage her injuries and continue to progress.Her forehand is faster than Andy’s, which is insane, but might explain wrist injuries? Shades of JMDP?
Sad to see Krejicova lose to Sabalenka. I don’t know who can stop her; she is a force to be reckoned with 😀
I was gutted, you know why! But really like the way she plays too. Has just beaten her, perhaps the conditions here suit Sabalenka better?
Hope Iga wins now, or Petra!
Young, energetic Maria Sakkari is in the Semifinal. Kvitova hung in there and won a set but faded in the decider. I hate seeing Petra lose!
Here we are on the WTA Semi-Final day, Indian Wells 2023.
#9 Maria Sakkari vs. #2 Aryna Sabelenka will play first; then it will be:
#10 Elena Rybakina vs. #1 Iga Swiatek
After watching all of them, I have to pick Aryna Sabalenko over Maria Sakkari, but the more complex match to select is Iga Swiatek vs. Rybakina. In my bracket, I picked Iga to defend her 2022 title and win, but I am unsure who will win the second Semi-Final. We shall see how the Semi-Finals go before guessing the Final winner!
A terrible performance from Maria Sakkari in the first set. And Ayrena Sabalenka is hitting enough serves and keeping enough balls in the court to get the first set. Maria is about to get broken for the 5th time. At the last second, she saves it. Maria desperately needs to hold serve, but she can’t hold serve. This match is a disaster for Sakkari. It was an easy win for Aryna Sabalenka, who did not need her best tennis today. Finally, at the end of the second set, Maria holds serve – too little, too late, Sabalenka wins, 62 63. Congrats to Aryna Sabalenka for making the Final in Indian Wells!
Bring on Swiatek and Rybakina 😀
Bring on Swiatek and Rybakina.
So it’s a final of the very big hitters, can’t say I’m thrilled.
Would like Ash Barty to come back, that is for sure.
I’m awake in your time zone, Margot, I think. Anyway, I retired early enough to be up at 3 am.
Never liked giant guy or big babe tennis, as you know. If I have to choose between Rybakina or Sabelenka, I’ll pick Rybakina. At 5’9″, I will choose Iga and Bencic, as big babes go. there is no one like Kvitty.
Regarding bracket picking, I must ditch my dislike of Fritzy baby to score higher. Or, I will remain a donkey about it and take my punches.
As giant guy tennis goes, I have never liked anyone more than the crazy Russian Medvedev.
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday with blue skies and sunshine, Margot. See you later, I need to try and go back to sleep.
PS I still hope Cami is Mira Andi 😀
A lovely warm Spring day here, Elizabeth. I’ve planted my new tatties and broad beans, done lots of pruning and inspected the shrubs that didn’t make it through the drought last Summer and the freeze this Winter.
I too find it very difficult to pick players I don’t like, or whose style of play I don’t like, WTA and ATP.
Hi M!!!!..happy to hear u enjoy yor summer!😁👋
Lovely to hear from you darling. Hope you are well.
Sending HUGE virtual hugs.
Err…I’m not Cami RC!..and Cami is not me!😀
There you are, Mira Andi. Whoever Cami is, they are doing so well most weeks that I thought you were back doing the brackets!
Lol, my little scheme worked. I like to hear from you and know you are still lighting up the planet. I don’t do social media anymore. All I have left is to call for you out my window. You occupy a lovely room in my head – I think of you all the time 😀 Remember that, and I have no one to chat with about tennis in real life.
My new boyfriend demands that I watch less tennis, hahaha
How long will that last? 😀
Do you have a favorite in this Indian Wells final? I don’t.
Hey hey hey RC!..hehe..yeah!..yor scheme worked!😆..i don’t have a heart to leave u here without replying to yor msg!hahaha..
I don’t have a fav in this final too RC!…even tho i can’t stand Alcaraz fist pumping in every shots he made(seems far less than last year) or acting braggingly asking for spectators to applause after great points,i still can watch them play bcoz i love tennis in general..tennis after all is a balm to a wounded soul for many of us!😁
About Alcaraz, I felt the same way about him in the beginning. And I don’t need to watch every detail of his matches. He tries to be humble, but knowing about those things is complex with the language barrier.
We shall see how it goes.
Someone asked…does anyone like WTA here? I do. If I had seen the article before I would have picked Krejickova plus Ryba. Picked Ryba yesterday to beat Iga (I don’t know if I am allowed to put that link here). I think that the best bet tomorrow for the Ryba-Sabs final is over 21 games. I wonder if Ricky puts it tomorrow…
I think and want 😂 Elena Rybakina to win the trophy tomorrow and I think she would get her revenge.
She lost in the Australian Open final 2 sets – 1 and Sabalenka leads the h2h 4 – 1 each 5 meetings has gone to the 3rd sets.
Rybakina to win and maybe over games or sets sometimes history doesn’t repeat itself in sports but I’m more confident that Elena would win but of course she can still lose Sabalenka is on fire this year 18 wins and 1 lose amazing stuff.
Actually it’s 4:0 Sabalenka, World Tennis League defeat doesn’t count, it’s an exhibition.
Love the rivalry, another Russian / Belorussian final.
I grabbed yor virtual hugs enthusiastically M!..no worries!..it reached it’s destination safely!😀
p/s..Ohh..i am well M!..so well that i can’t c my own 2 feet!😆
Maybe you will come around more when Rafa gets back? You are very loved and missed by everyone who knows you. The non-tennis page works now – leave us a message there (non-tennis page), please. Virtual hugs x and kisses, 00 🥰
I see Elena Rybakina got the 1st set in a tie-breaker. And Elena fought off a couple of break points. I guess I am more for Rybakina than Sabalenka. But I would not bet on this match!
Rybakina strikes me as more disciplined and focused on the day-to-day grind and process that makes a multiple GS winner.
Both are incredibly talented.
Congrats to my baby girl 😂 Elena Rybakina, so prob of her more trophies to come.
She is such a talent, disciplined, composed and mature beyond her years.
Sabalenka played amazing as well in the 1st set.
…Proud…
Ermm…i’m not sure i will come here even when Rafa start playing again RC..as much as i love him,he also bring a lottttt of heartache to me!..once upon a time,it was very easier to deal with all the losses,but now..it’s really hard to accept it!..not very good for my BP RC..😀
Bout Rybakina/Sabalenka’s match,i didn’t watch it RC!..when i woke up,they’re already hugs & kisses!😁..and i’m glad Ryba won!..i’m not a fan of screaming Saba!..i think Ryba is a veryyy underated champion!..and i hope she will thrive this year!
I’m sad to hear that, MA. About your BP, too; sorry to hear that. I have to watch mine too, and I think we have similar health challenges.
Charlie Alcaraz will be tough to beat on clay; he is proving hard to beat on any surface. It’s also hard not to like him. Okay, I wish you all the best. Please come around whenever you feel like it. 🙁
Take care.
High BP that’s me as well, 😂
Ohh..u too Big Al?..hehe..Welcome to Club High Bp!
Thanks & insyaallah RC!..if things permitted,i will!
Amazing win for Rybakina. She really has Swiateks number at the moment.I havent yet seen the final, would have been rooting for Aryna , but well done.
You won both WTA and ATP Indian Wells brackets, Big Al. Usually, you at least win one or the other but this time a full sweep. Congrats 😀
Thanks !My favourite tournament all year. I won the ATP last year as well😃
I hope Ricky has time to add a WTA write-up about Miami.
t
At the moment I’m going with Sabalenka to wi Miami…quick turnaround for us predictors
Iga’s tennis makes her my favorite, but she needs to find a way to make her serve more of a weapon if she is to keep up with Elena and Aryna. Iga’s fitness and work ethic are first-class, but adding Aga Radwanska’s guile and variety would also help. She is a fine work in progress.
Sabalenka gives off the sex kitten vibe suitable for ticket sales. I don’t find her tennis exciting or appealing. But if she can keep herself as fit as she turned up for AO, she might become a consistent #1. She had a razor-sharp edge and the proper focus in Australia, but I noticed she had already let that slip a bit, enough not to be able to get the win over Rybakina at IW. There are a number of players that can’t quite keep their eyes on the target. Ostapenko is an extreme example. I keep my fingers crossed for her whenever I see her in the draw. I imagine she is like a honey badger, and she does what she wants
😀
Honey badger great description. I remember a match with Niami Broady where the latter was screaming for her to be defaulted for her behaviour.Not a nice person, but I cant help wanting her to win.
Iga injured in IW apparently so I cant pick her , first time this year I havent. Watch her win now .
Are high BP comments literal or metaphoric when your favourite is in trouble? I’m puzzled.
Shame Iga injured. Hope she does find a way to handle the power players, though I do like Rybarikina.
A bit of both.Tennis not good for your health .Most stressful matches? All those close Wimby finals with Federer and before that Borg
Cheers for responding 🙂 I have low BP in spite of Andy….but means I can keel over…if Andy wins!
The worst BP I ever had was probably RG 2007 final when Fed missed all those BPs 😉
Hi M!..when i gave birth to my last child,my BP rose to almost 200..doc said ‘just rest..no reading,no watching,no listening ok?’..and i had to spend 2 weeks in hospital to keep it down..
So of coz if u watch tennis match,with up & down(like Rafa’s match) the blood tend to get havoc..plus.. i got a really bad temper..bad recipe to watch tennis!haha😁
Gosh AM, that sounds very difficult, especially if there were other children at home. Poor you!
I simply can’t believe you have a “bad temper!” Online you come over as the sweetest person and a peace maker.
Ohohohho!!…thanks for the compliment M!…muah!!
Buttt…really!..my temper is bad!..my whole family have it actually..i’m the mildest one!..
But i’m still that sweetest person & peace maker M!..nothing’s change!😁
🙂 x
It took me a long time to find this WTA thread – a week!
Swiatek does have a nasty virus, and she finally admitted that the deep cough was the reason for an injured rib. She played Doha with it and never correctly addressed it until Indian Wells. All that nose-blowing and painful, rib-busting cough and no one in her team could get her to a doctor and treated? The power of denial is strong, indeed.
I am done with not picking Sabalenka, and she does not appear to be reverting to her old form soon. And Pegula, I have to pick her too, I see. There is no time or space to indulge my moodiness in these brackets. It won’t be easy, but I have to pick Taylor Fritz. Thanks to Charlie Alcaraz, picking the ATP winner is easy.
Rybakina has a kind and generous heart, paying it forward with her earnings to 14 Kazakh children needing support to get a leg up in tennis.
https://qazmonitor.com/people
Get well soon, Iga!
Mira Andi,
Never change your online personality. It is hard to imagine you have a terrible temper. You are a minister of happiness here 😀
Hey hey hey RC!…hehehe…thank u for the compliment boss!..even if i want to change,i don’t know how!..this is me RC!..as u know yorself!😀👍
Ohh btw..my neck hurts looking at yor tiny feets RC!…whooo!!..u’re on 7th sky on WTA Bracket!..phewwittt!!..well done RC!
Good evening Mira Andi!
Your neck hurts…but I fell entirely down on the ATP bracket! I will admit I didn’t make wise choices. I miss the old cast of characters, and now the winner is too easy. Maybe I speak too soon, but there it is.
Finally, a great WTA match, and I have a new appreciation for Pegula knocking Portopova out. I was on the edge of my bed, ready to fall off if Pegula didn’t win 😀
It’s great to read you here this morning, rather, this evening where you are. Now I must get my chubby self out the door for a brisk walk; doctor’s orders 💪
Wasn’t there another article that Ricky wrote about WTA Miami?
If so, sorry to keep using this one.
I just read that Bianca Andreescu had to be taken off the court last night in a wheelchair after she twisted an ankle, and that’s how Ekaterina Alexandrova is in the Miami QF vs. Petra Kvitova Wednesday evening.
It’s disappointing because it seems Andreescu is injured so much. I hope the sprained ankle doesn’t keep her sidelined for long.
And I hope Petra wins that match and makes the SF vs. Sabakenka! 😀
Sorana Cristea having it her way – gets the first set.
Aryna’s first time she is playing Sorana. Still, a lot of time left, and I imagine Sabalenka will win. But Sorana is super fit right now, and she’s a wily Romanian tricky to beat.
Good Match-up! Sorana is a good returner and moves well.