It has been said that the great ones can win a few games in the locker room before a match. For two-time BNP Paribas Open champion Iga Swiatek, whose relentlessly physical game has become best in class on the gritty hard courts of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden over the last three years, maybe more than a few. 

On an overcast day in Tennis Paradise, after spits of rain delayed play for nearly an hour until the sun came out, the Pole cast a black cloud over 15th-seeded Karolina Muchova from first ball, and marched without interruption to a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

“For sure I felt great,” Swiatek said, stating the obvious after her victory. “I used all my chances and I’m pretty happy that I played with such confidence.” 

Swiatek improves to 21-2 lifetime in the California desert, and stretches her current winning streak at the tournament to nine victories. She will face either China’s Qinwen Zheng or Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals.

The Pole has dropped just six games through three rounds, which ties Monica Seles’ record for the fewest games dropped en route to the Indian Wells quarterfinals, with minimum three matches played. 

In the process, Swiatek ramps up her bid to become the first woman to ever win three BNP Paribas Open titles, and the first woman to successfully defend the title here since Martina Navratilova in 1991.

When a Muchova backhand sailed harmlessly long to give Swiatek two break points four points into the match, there was an indication that Tuesday’s tussle with the Pole might be an uphill slog for her. 

Swiatek patrolled her baseline with customary fervor, and had the wily Czech on a string as she marched to a 4-0 lead in 18 minutes. 

Three minutes later an ace sent sailing down the T got Muchova on the board at 1-4, but she dropped the next two games, the Czech’s second double-fault of the set closing the opener in 29 minutes. 

Muchova and Swiatek have gone the distance in three of their four encounters, including a riveting final in Paris that saw Swiatek edge out a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win en route to her third of four Roland Garros titles in 2023.

A decider was not in the offing today.

On Tuesday, Muchova’s best moments were sporadic, and her worst came at critical times, like the swing volley she drove long to hand Swiatek a break and a 2-0 lead in the second set. 

Putting wind in the five-time major champion’s sails is never a good idea. One of the best frontrunners that the women’s game has ever seen, Swiatek slips into an almost unconscious state as a fusillade of powerful topspin drives effortlessly fly off her racquet. 

With a 6-1, 2-0 lead in her pocket she was free to do what she does best. Run her opponent ragged and prey on mistakes. 

Well aware of the shotmaking capacities of Muchova, the crowd tried to lift her up when she cracked a winner or executed a perfect drop shot. But her chances were few and far between against Swiatek. The World No. 2 slipped into her patterns with ease, and effectively took Muchova out of the equation, as she finished off her latest devastating performance in 57 minutes. 

Since the event’s inauguration in 1989, Monica Seles has conceded the fewest games en route to the women’s singles title at Indian Wells, dropping just 12 games in 1992 (in five matches). If any player has a chance to match that incredible feat, it would be Swiatek.