Iga Swiatek rolls into second BNP Paribas Open final, dismantles Marta Kostyuk in semis

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—Iga Swiatek is one win away from becoming queen of the desert for a second time in three years: the world No. 1 dispatched Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the 2024 BNP Paribas Open final.

"I'm proud of myself and really excited," Swiatek said after the match. "I think it was a great match for me today. I have all positive vibes."

Competing in chilly, overcast conditions, Swiatek was red hot against an out-of-sorts Kostyuk, striking just six unforced errors in two sets to reach her 10th WTA 1000 final in one hour and nine minutes on Stadium 1 Court.

Swiatek and Kostyuk were facing off for the second time on the Hologic WTA tour, but the two go back to their junior days: Swiatek was the last woman to defeat Kostyuk before the latter went on to win the 2017 Australian Open girl’s singles title. Swiatek would win her first junior Slam 18 months later at Wimbledon; by the end of 2020, she was on top of the women’s game with a first Grand Slam victory at Roland Garros.

Kostyuk made quicker in-roads on the WTA circuit when she reached the third round of the 2018 Australian Open, but is yet to reach the high bar Swiatek has gone on to set as a four-time major champion and world No. 1.

Still, the 21-year-old Ukrainian is in the midst of a career-best season, starting 2024 with a run to her first major quarterfinal in Melbourne and backing it up at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where she surged into her first WTA 1000 semifinal.

Though she was first on the board, a combination of erratic play from Kostyuk and relentless hitting from Swiatek helped the top seed reel off the next five games, ultimately nabbing the opening set in just over half an hour.

The Stadium 1 crowd, longing for a more competitive match, tried to lift the flustered Ukrainian, who promptly dropped the first two games of the second set. Things went from bad to worse the following game when she jammed her foot on game point, calling the trainer in the ensuing changeover.

Swiatek held her nerve as Kostyuk emerged from the medical timeout, consolidating her double-break advantage, sweeping a forehand into the open court to move within four points of the finish line.

Drawing a backhand error from the overawed No. 31 seed, Swiatek was soon at match point, converting with a thunderous forehand return winner.

Standing between Swiatek and a second BNP Paribas Open title will 2022 finalist Maria Sakkari (Sakkari leads 3-2), who withstood an incredible fightback to outlast Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2, in a rain-delayed second semifinal.