Former World No.1 questions if Iga Swiatek is ‘confident’ enough to win Indian Wells after Doha and Dubai heartbreak
World No.2 Iga Swiatek hasn't yet lifted a WTA title since winning her fourth French Open last year.
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X)
After the conclusion of the Middle East Swing, Iga Swiatek is gearing up for the Indian Wells. She didn’t have a successful campaign in the two WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai and once again failed to reach the singles finals in the 2025 season.
At the Qatar Open, the Pole succumbed to a straight-set defeat to Jelena Ostapenko who improved her head-to-head record over her to 5-0. She was chasing history in Doha as she was bidding to win the tournament four times in a row.
Swiatek’s quest for the Dubai Open ended when eventual winner Mirra Andreeva defeated her in the quarterfinals. Former World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam singles champion Lindsay Davenport questioned if the five-time Grand Slam champion is confident enough to turn it around at Indian Wells following unsuccessful campaigns this season.
Is she fresh? Is she confident? Does she believe going in that she can play her best tennis and win one? Similar to [Aryna] Sabalenka where she’s playing to win Grand Slams, she was very disappointed to not win the Australian Open or to lose that match to Madison [Keys]. She had it there for a period of time, let it slip away.
Lindsay Davenport told Tennis Channel
Swiatek hasn’t yet won a tournament since lifting last year’s French Open. Since then, she also hasn’t produced consistent performance and had to be on the sidelines due to the doping suspension.
Despite her doubt, Lindsay Davenport picks Iga Swiatek as favorite to win at Indian Wells
Iga Swiatek has clinched two Indian Wells titles (in 2022 and 2024), while in 2023, she was the semifinalist. Although Lindsay Davenport said that she doesn’t know why Swiatek looks more stressed out and not calm and composed while playing, she feels sometimes one tournament is enough to change things.
Swiatek, who for the first time reached a semifinal of a hard-court Major since 2022 at this year’s Australian Open, is backed by Davenport to emerge as the champion in Indian Wells. The American claimed that Swiatek’s game suits the slower court condition where the ball bounces high and travels quickly.
She’s fortunate she’s coming into one of her favorite tournaments…for me, she’s the favorite going into Indian Wells.
Lindsay Davenport told Tennis Channel
The 23-year-old beat Maria Sakkari in last year’s Indian Wells final. Swiatek, however, was unsuccessful in completing the Sunshine Double due to defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16 of the Miami Open.
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