World No. 2 Iga Swiatek continued her winning streak against Caroline Garcia, securing a spot in the Miami Open third round with a 6-2, 7-5 victory in 1 hour and 34 minutes. This marks their second encounter in consecutive tournaments where Swiatek has emerged victorious.
Just two weeks prior at Indian Wells, Swiatek dominated Garcia in a swift 61 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-0. Garcia offered stronger resistance this time, pushing Swiatek to recover from a 3-1 deficit and fend off a set point at 5-4 in the second set. However, Swiatek demonstrated resilience, claiming the final three games to extend her head-to-head record against Garcia to 6-1.
Swiatek started strongly, winning the first 10 points before Garcia managed to score. Despite breaking serve to lead 1-0 in the second set, Swiatek then conceded three consecutive games, attributing it to a sudden drop in energy levels.
`My energy level decreased quite rapidly,` Swiatek admitted in her post-match interview. `So I focused on regaining my intensity from the first set, maintaining momentum, and taking my chances.`
Echoing her successful approach from Indian Wells, Swiatek employed similar tactics in Miami, despite acknowledging slight differences in playing conditions.
`The strategy remained consistent due to our comparable playing styles,` she explained. `However, adjustments are necessary based on the court conditions. The ball tends to bounce lower here, and the air feels less dynamic. I need to prepare for a slightly faster game and maintain a lower stance.`
She added, `These adjustments apply to all opponents, not just Caroline. The main difference today was allowing her back into the second set a bit.`
This victory makes Swiatek 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 in Cincinnati 2021 to Ons Jabeur, following a first-round bye. In the Miami third round, Swiatek is set to face No. 27 seed Elise Mertens, who defeated Peyton Stearns 6-4, 6-1 with effective drop shots.
