The 21-year-old Pole, looking for a double in the California desert that only Martina Navratilova managed in 1991-1992, never wavered against an opponent she had beaten in 2022 in Melbourne, for their first meeting.
Aggressive, sharp, sure of her tennis, Swiatek was conquering and domineering in the exchanges, never letting Cirstea believe in the feat, even when the latter broke in the first set to come back to 2-1.
This ephemeral burst had the effect of remobilizing the Pole, winner of Roland-Garros and the US Open last year, who further accelerated the pace to pocket the first set.
The 32-year-old Romanian, who had snatched her qualification in the quarters, thwarting the predictions against the French Caroline Garcia (5th), tried to resist in the second set, after being trailed 4-0. She managed to take Swiatek's serve again, but it was only to delay the deadline, sealed after 1:22 of play.
"I started well in each set and I was able to finish cleanly, so...", she summed up hot on the court, by way of satisfaction.
With this 16th win of the season, all in two sets, Swiatek confirms his rise to power in Indian Wells.
But she will have to be wary of Rybakina, winner at Wimbledon last year and finalist in Melbourne in January. On her way, the Kazakh (10th in the world) had sent her out of the 8th final. "Elena is playing very well, but I will be ready," she warned.
© 2023 AFP