Only two current ATP youngsters’ games have impressed Iga Swiatek, who is in Indian Wells to bid for a second consecutive title.
Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek (Image via Tennis X)
Iga Swiatek has become a fan of Joao Fonseca, the talented teenager from Brazil, who is tipped to join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to form another formidable Big 3. Both Swiatek and Fonseca are in Indian Wells on their quest for the 1000 ranking points.
Swiatek, the second seed, has received a bye and will be opening her campaign in the round of 64. Fonseca, on the other hand, moved into the second round with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win over Jacob Fearnley on his Indian Wells debut.
Swiatek, ahead of her match, revealed that since Nadal’s retirement at the 2024 Davis Cup, she watched only Alcaraz’s matches in ATP events. She has now started to enjoy Fonseca’s matches too.
When Rafa retired, I haven’t been watching much of ATP. I always follow Carlos Alcaraz. I had trouble finding other players who really struck me and I love their game. Then I watched Joao and I really enjoyed how he plays and moves…The decisions he makes on the court. I think he’s for sure gonna be a player I’ll follow.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
The 2024 Next-Gen ATP Finals winner will face 13th seed Jack Draper next. His win over Fearnley was his second ATP Masters 1000 victory and his first on a hard court. Swiatek is convinced that the 18-year-old, who won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires, is going in the right direction and has some qualities to make him a great player of the game.
Because of him, I’ll maybe watch more of ATP and enjoy that. He’s been amazing. He’s doing great. There’s a lot of pressure on him, so I hope the Brazilian fans will take it easy on him because he’s still young and there’s time to develop. With enough peace of mind, step by step, he’s gonna become a great player.
Iga Swiatek added
Iga Swiatek set to lock horns with Caroline Garcia
Iga Swiatek will enter the tournament as a defending champion, having lifted the title last year as well as in 2022. Swiatek will want to end her trophy draught as she last clinched a WTA title at the 2024 French Open.
The Pole will kick start her campaign in the California desert on Friday (March 7). She will be up against Caroline Garcia, who beat Bernarda Pera in the first round.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has faced the former World No.4 five times and holds a 4-1 head-to-head record. In their last encounter, Swiatek secured a three-set win over the Frenchwoman at the 2024 United Cup.
Garcia has never progressed beyond the fourth round in Indian Wells and last reached the round of 16 in 2023. The defending champion, on the other hand, beat Maria Sakkari in last year’s final.
