Two hurricanes colliding: Halep and Swiatek, first semi-final

In a circuit as close as the WTA, the arrival of Simona Halep and Iga Swiatek in the semifinals is a serious warning. Both were among the biggest names, but their entry into the penultimate round for the Indian Wells trophy is impressive.. Two walks, two hurricanes that, now, are forced to collide. The Romanian tennis player, number one in her country after beating Sorana Cirstea in the quarterfinals, needed 53 minutes to dispatch Petra Martic, a deceitful 79th in the world, as it was 14th in 2020 and has one of the most versatile hitting cards in the competition. The Polish, on the other hand, used three more, 56, to run over Madison Keys, a 25th which, too, must be rounded up. A double 6-1 and a 6-1, 6-0, respectively, that design a very expensive ticket to the final and that, also, oxygenate the opposite side of the table, through which the defending champion, Paula Badosa, advances.

Halep was the first to jump into action. Determined and brave. And she found reward in all her attempts. Five of five break balls, combined with 18 winners and a constant martyrdom over Martic, who could not concede and always did. He only won 20% of the points with his second serve and did not complete any of the three break situations he raised. Defenseless and without ideas on the offensive. “I think it was probably my best game this year. I felt super good. I felt confident. I’ve been aggressive and I’ve done everything she had planned,” analyzed Halep, champion on American soil in 2015, after the match. On the way to the first 6-1, he chained 14 unanswered points; to start the second round, another 10. Unstoppable.

As if the answer was forced, Swiatek came later to extend his win locker in 2022 (18, more than anyone else) in the most imposing way possible: he took a little longer, yes, but he gave up one less game. After winning in Doha, she remains undefeated in the WTA 1000 tournaments of the season and seeks perfection, which resembles the almost two donuts endorsed to Martic, in one of those games whose analysis can only be summed up in superiority. Moving her to Halep is the next mission, albeit a very complicated one. In total, they have met three times and all have been in Grand Slams. The Romanian racket beat the Polish racket at Roland Garros 2019, Swiatek took revenge in the next edition of the major French and Halep, tipping the scales, won the confrontation at the Australian Open last year. The fourth duel, on the heights, is worth an Indian Wells final.

Results of the WTA 1,000 of Indian Wells.