World No. 2 Iga Swiatek continued her winning streak against Caroline Garcia, defeating her in straight sets to progress to the third round of the Miami Open. The match lasted approximately ??? minutes.
Two weeks prior at Indian Wells, Swiatek dominated Garcia with a swift victory. In this encounter, Garcia offered more resistance, challenging Swiatek in the second set where the Polish player had to recover from a deficit and fend off a set point at 4-5. However, Swiatek demonstrated her resilience, claiming the final three games to secure her sixth win in seven matches against Garcia.
Swiatek started strongly, taking the first ten points of the match before Garcia managed to get on the scoreboard. Despite breaking early in the second set, Swiatek experienced a sudden dip, losing three consecutive games due to unforced errors. Swiatek attributed this lapse to a decrease in her energy levels.
In her post-match interview, Swiatek commented on her energy fluctuations, stating she felt a rapid decline and focused on regaining her first-set intensity to finish the match strong.
Swiatek, the 2022 Miami champion, largely employed the same successful tactics from their Indian Wells match, adapting to the slightly different playing conditions in Miami.
She explained that while their game plans remained similar due to comparable playing styles, adjustments are necessary based on court conditions. Swiatek noted the ball bounces lower in Miami and the air feels less dynamic, requiring her to prepare for a quicker game and maintain a lower stance.
Swiatek acknowledged these adjustments apply to all opponents, not just Garcia, but admitted to allowing Garcia back into the second set more than she intended.
This victory marks a historic milestone for Swiatek as she becomes the first player in WTA 1000 history since 2009 to win 25 consecutive opening matches at this level. Her streak began after a second-round loss at Cincinnati in 2021 to Ons Jabeur. In the Miami third round, Swiatek is set to face No. 27 seed Elise Mertens, who advanced by defeating Peyton Stearns.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth