Stat of the Day: It’s down to Swiatek and Sakkari for the No. 2 ranking

Going into the semifinals of Indian Wells on Friday night, three women—Iga Swiatek, Maria Sakkari and Paula Badosa—had a chance at securing the No. 2 ranking.

But with Swiatek battling past Simona Halep in the first semifinal, 7-6 (6), 6-4, and Sakkari taking out defending champion Paula Badosa in the second semifinal, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, it’s now down to one match: whoever wins the final between Swiatek and Sakkari on Sunday will rise to No. 2 on the WTA rankings come Monday.

Both women are guaranteed to reach a new career-high, regardless of what happens in the final of the WTA 1000 event—Swiatek is currently at a career-high of No. 4, while Sakkari is currently at a personal best No. 6.

Sakkari leads their head-to-head, 3-1, but Swiatek’s win came in their only meeting in 2022, which was just a few weeks ago in the semifinals of Doha, with the Pole winning that one, 6-4, 6-3. The Greek won their first three meetings, all last year and all in straight sets, in the quarters of Roland Garros, 6-4, 6-4, in the semis of Ostrava, 6-4, 7-5, and in the round robin stage of the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, 6-2, 6-4.