Iga Swiatek Seeking Her Second Sunshine Double, Looking To Repeat Her 2022 Feat
- World No.1 Iga Swiatek is top contender for 2024 Miami Open.
- Notable opponents include Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and others.
- Each player brings diverse strategies, promising an electrifying tournament.
Iga Swiatek of Poland poses for photographers after defeating Maria Sakkari of Greece during the Women's Final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis (Getty Images)
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is the top contender for the 2024 Miami Open title after winning her second Indian Wells title over the weekend. But worthy opponents like Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and many others stand in her way.
- Iga Swiatek
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Elena Rybakina
- Coco Gauff
- Jessica Pegula
- Underdogs
The women’s draw in the WTA Miami Masters 1000 tournament is packed with power hitters, each capable of clinching the title. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is the obvious top favourite, entering the tournament on the back of her title win in Indian Wells. The Pole has already won the Sunshine Double in her stellar season of 2022 and looks to emulate the achievement as well as that season once more this year.
Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, also is a top contender. The Belarussian is often compared to American legend Serena Williams when it comes to power and precision combined. The 2-time Australian Open champ aims to keep the pressure on Iga Swiatek for the World No. 1 ranking. Though Elena Rybakina bagged the Indian Wells title in 2023, she has suffered from poor health this season and was forced to withdraw from the competition last week. However, if fit, the Kazakh packs a punch and is capable of ousting both the World No. 1 and 2.
American teenager Coco Gauff is another top contender. She has been playing incredible tennis this year and is also the home crowd’s favourite. Another home crowd favourite is Jessica Pegula, who also features in this year’s tournament. Let’s take a look at the top WTA contenders for the 2024 Miami Open crown.
Iga Swiatek
There is no surprise that the World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is the top favourite to lift the 2024 Miami Open title and her second Sunshine Double triumph. The Pole has been a favourite in every tournament she has featured in since 2022, and her incredible run at the top of the WTA rankings, along with her 37-match unbeaten run that year. In 2024, Swiatek started off shaky as she was ousted from the Australian Open third round by Linda Noskova.
However, the 22-year-old has made a strong comeback, with two WTA 1000 titles already under her belt. He won her first title of 2024 in Qatar by defeating Rybakina in the final and second in Indian Wells by defeating a resurgent Maria Sakkari. Swiatek has a win-loss record of 20-2 this year, and after winning in Indian Wells without dropping a set, is the woman to beat in Miami.
Aryna Sabalenka
Though Swiatek is playing unbelievable tennis, Aryna Sabalenka cannot be ruled out as a favourite ever. The power-hitter completed her dream of winning two Grand Slams by age 25 by winning her second consecutive Australian Open crown in January, and this time, without dropping a set. The Belarussian is a formidable opponent on the WTA Tour.
She has a win-loss record of 13-3 in the current season; however, she has not managed to add another title after her Major victory. Her best performance outside of the Grand Slam was at the WTA 500 in Brisbane before the Australian Open, where she was sent packing in the final by Rybakina who won 6-0, 6-3.
Elena Rybakina
Last season’s Indian Wells champion, Rybakina, missed this year’s tournament owing to illness. The Kazakh has suffered from poor health a lot in recent times. However, if fit, she is capable of taking on anyone in the women’s draw. The current World No. 4 already has two titles to her name in 2024, despite poor health.
She won her first by besting Sabalenka in Brisbane and the second by sweeping away Daria Kasatkina in Abu Dhabi. The Kazakh came close to clinching the Sunshine Double last year after winning in Indian Wells and making it to the final of Miami, where she was denied the title by Petra Kvitova. This year, Rybakina will eye to move a step ahead and get her hands on that trophy.
Coco Gauff
American teenager Coco Gauff silenced all critics by beating an in-form Aryna Sabalenka to claim the 2023 US Open crown, which marked her first Major title aged just 19. She climbed to a career-high ranking of World No. 3 this year by lifting the trophy at the WTA 250 in Auckland by defeating a resurgent Elina Svitolina in three sets in the final.
Gauff has never made it past the fourth round in Miami; however, the level of tennis she has exhibited in recent months makes her a top contender this year. The American has a 16-4 win-loss record in 2024 and will be a home favourite in Miami in front of the American crowds.
Jessica Pegula
Two-time Miami Open semifinalist Jessica Pegula is another home favourite at this year’s tournament. Though she has had a shaky start to the 2024 season, Pegula’s past performances in this tournament in front of the American crowd could make her a title contender.
Last year, she lost to Rybakina in the semifinal in straight sets and to eventual champion Swiatek the year before that. The current World No. 5 has only played ten matches this season and has an average record of six wins to four losses.
Underdogs
Simona Halep returns to the WTA Tour after being cleared of all doping charges and makes her comeback in Miami, though out of touch for a long time, Halep can make a deep run. Maria Sakkari’s resurgence after a long spell of poor performances at the Indian Wells makes her another challenger in Miami.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is also looking to find her footing after returning to tour from her maternity break. She crashed out in the third round of Indian Wells, losing to Elise Mertens in straight sets, but has it in her to make a dent in the draw.
Overall, Iga Swiatek, being in amazing form, as she has been in consistently since 2022 is the top favourite to run away with her second Sunshine Double. However, Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Gauff are all capable candidates standing in her way.
