CVC previously invested in Formula One and it currently holds stakes in La Liga, Six Nations Rugby and Premiership Rugby. On Tuesday, the WTA announced long-awaited confirmation of its new $150m (£125m) partnership with CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm that will take a 20% stake in the WTA. Only now has she re-established her form and her status as one of the biggest threats.Īs the players begin in Indian Wells, the tour has shifted off the court. Krejcikova, now 27, initially followed up her shock 2021 French Open triumph well but an elbow injury forced her out for four months in 2022 and broke down her confidence. Her immaculate timing and soft hands allow her to redirect from any part of the court and generate wicked angles, her heavy forehand is one of the best in the world and she possesses a complete game refined on the doubles court. Krejcikova, meanwhile, offers a completely different challenge. Rybakina, seeded 10th, can only face Swiatek in the quarter-final. Sabalenka, who lost in three sets against Krejcikova in Dubai, will look to build her form again in the bottom half of the draw. On the notoriously slow courts of Indian Wells, however, they face their own challenges. After their brutal, instant-classic Australian Open final, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina positioned themselves as contenders.īarbora Krejcikova celebrates winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, her biggest singles victory since the 2021 French Open. Swiatek does not always enjoy facing the bigger hitters, who can land the first strike and rush her strokes. In the first two months of the year there has also been a response from the tour. Swiatek was dealing with an infection in Dubai, so she remained satisfied with her level of play despite the defeat. She is also a significantly better athlete than almost every opponent.ĭuring her run in the Middle East, Swiatek demonstrated improvements to her serve, a reminder that despite being the best player in the world, at 21 she is still improving. She overpowers them with her greater weaponry, dominating off both wings from inside the baseline with her spin, angles and weight of shot. She does not only outplay her opponents, she destroys them. Swiatek’s recent performances underlined her continued dominance.

At the beginning of this season, the most pertinent questions were exactly how Swiatek would follow up her first season as No 1 and who could possibly keep up with her? The results in the Middle East left the tour in an interesting position before Indian Wells, the biggest non-grand slam event on the calendar.

Iga swiatek sofascore