World No. 2 Iga Swiatek defeated Caroline Garcia to advance to the third round of the Miami Open, in a match that lasted 1 hour and 34 minutes, with the final score being 6-2, 7-5. This victory marks Swiatek`s second consecutive win against Garcia in recent tournaments.
In their previous encounter just two weeks ago at Indian Wells, Swiatek dominated Garcia in a swift 61 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-0. However, in this Miami match, Garcia presented a greater challenge, even holding a set point in the second set at 5-4. Despite this, Swiatek demonstrated resilience, winning the last three games to secure the set and match, improving her overall record against Garcia to 6-1.
Swiatek started the match powerfully, winning the first ten points. Although she broke serve to lead 1-0 in the second set, she then faced a setback, losing three games in a row due to unforced errors. Swiatek attributed this dip in her performance to a decrease in her energy levels.
In her on-court interview, Swiatek commented, “My energy level dropped quite rapidly. I focused on regaining my intensity from the first set, maintaining focus, and being proactive.”
Despite the slightly different conditions in Miami compared to Indian Wells, Swiatek effectively employed a similar strategy that brought her success previously, leveraging her experience as the 2022 Miami champion.
Reflecting on her tactics, Swiatek mentioned, “The strategy was similar because our playing styles are alike. However, the game dynamics do change slightly. The ball has a lower bounce here, and the air feels less dynamic. I needed to prepare for a potentially faster game and maintain a lower body position.”
She further added, “This adjustment is necessary against any opponent, not just Caroline. The primary difference in this match was allowing her a slight opening to come back in the second set.”
This victory is historically significant for Swiatek as it marks her 25th consecutive win in the opening matches of WTA 1000 tournaments since 2009. This impressive streak began after Cincinnati 2021. Looking ahead in Miami, Swiatek is set to face No. 27 seed Elise Mertens in the next round. Mertens advanced by defeating Peyton Stearns 6-4, 6-1, utilizing effective drop shots.
