Iga Swiatek first ever Polish Year-end World Number 1

 

PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The WTA announced Tuesday that Iga Swiatek and Katerina Siniakova secured the 2022 WTA year-end No.1 singles and doubles rankings.

This is the first time in her career Swiatek finished the season in the top spot, becoming the 15th player overall. The week of Nov. 7 marks her 32nd week as the WTA World No.1, a position she reached on April 4, 2022. Only Serena Williams (57 weeks), Martina Hingis (80 weeks) and Stefanie Graf (186 weeks) held the top ranking for longer streaks after making their No.1 debut.

“Iga and Katerina have enjoyed memorable seasons, and I am delighted to see them earn the WTA Year-End No.1 Rankings,” said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. “The Hologic WTA Tour this year has been more competitive than ever, featuring more than 50 tournaments across six continents, and Iga and Katerina deserve huge credit and recognition as they continue to redefine excellence in our sport.”

Swiatek won eight tournaments in 2022, including winning six events in a row over a 37-match winning streak. Among those eight titles were two Grand Slams, at Roland Garros and the US Open. She also won WTA 1000 tournaments at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (Doha), BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells), Miami Open presented by Itaú and Internazionali BNL d'Italia (Rome), and WTA 500 events at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart) and the San Diego Open.

Overall, Swiatek won 67 matches this season and amassed the second-most year-end ranking points with 11,085 since the WTA Rankings were introduced. Serena Williams is the only player who had more, when she earned 13,260 in 2013.

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Iga Swiatek reflects on her incredible season after losing out to Sabalenka in WTA Finals semis

FORT WORTH, Texas -- World No.1 Iga Swiatek's remarkable 2022 season is over. The top seed at the WTA Finals bowed out to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, taking just her ninth loss in an season that spanned over 11 months.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, I've been waiting for that moment," Swiatek said, reflecting on the end of her season. "Because last week, basically it was pretty hard to see the finish line but still be fully motivated and ready for every match. On one hand, I'm sad that I lost, but on the other hand, I have one more day off. That's something on the bright side.

"This season has been so intense and I'm so proud of myself that I could play so well till the end of it. I'm happy that it's done."

The numbers surrounding the 21-year-old's 2022 campaign will fill an extraordinary chapter. She captured a tour-leading eight titles -- the most since Serena Williams' 11 in 2013 -- and posted a century-best 37-match win streak that left her unbeaten for 135 days, more than a third of the season. Her loss to Sabalenka snapped a 15-match win streak against Top 10 opposition. In the last 40 years, only Martina Navratilova (20) and Stefanie Graf (17) had more.

Swiatek will finish the year with 11,085 ranking points, the most since Serena Williams' 13,615 in 2013. In fact, since the WTA introduced ranking points, Swiatek's season-ending total is second to only Serena's 13,260 in 2013.

The Polish star still can't believe what how this season unfolded.

"It's just crazy that it happens," Swiatek said. "It's that kind of thing that is gonna stay with you for the rest of your career. And it's something to be proud of. Even though I lost today, I'm going to try to enjoy everything."

That Swiatek's stats keep running up against Serena's is a testament to the heights she reached this year. She posted 22 6-0 sets, the most since Serena's 25 in 2013 season. Her domination was evident in her 48 straight-set wins this year, the most, again, since Serena. She finishes the year with a 68-9 record, the most wins in a single season since, you guessed it, Serena.

"I want to spend eight days not thinking about anything and not doing anything," Swiatek said. "That's the first time I'm gonna have a vacation like that because usually I went to places where I could do sightseeing, and I still had an active vacation.

"Slowly I'm going to kind of come back to work. And then I'm sure that we're gonna start some easy practice sessions. So, yeah, a lot of time. And I'm happy about it."

Swiatek's 47 hard-court wins are the fifth-highest tally since 2000 and the most since 2013. Only Lindsay Davenport, Kim Clijsters, Agnieszka Radwansk and Jelena Jankovic had more in this century. Swiatek conceded only 13 games in her run to her first semifinal at the WTA Finals, a number bested -- in the modern round-robin era -- by only Justine Henin's 11 in 2007.

Her streak through the season saw her win two more major titles, at Roland Garros and the US Open, taking her total to three. In the spring she became the youngest player to complete the Sunshine Double and win Indian Well and Miami back-to-back.

Swiatek won 40 of her first 45 matches as a World No.1. Since 2000, it is a mark matched only by Henin and bested by Serena, who won 42 of her first matches as a World No.1.

It's a heady set of statistics for Swiatek, but for now, it's a race to rest and recuperate before she gets back to padding her stats once again.

"I'm just gonna really relax because I actually needed to learn how to do that," Swiatek said. "Last year was the first time that I was able to kind of cut off everything and recover well. I'm gonna try to do it again this year, because it's not that easy when you're constantly playing and your brain is used to competing.

"I want to get the adrenaline low and just chill out. maybe try to use the success that I had during the preseason. But also, it's gonna be pretty important for me to be focused on practicing and usually preseason is that kind of period where I'm dead and tired. So I'm not planning anything spectacular."

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Maybe the season didn't end quite the way we all wanted, the way Iga herself wanted I'm sure. But I honestly can't be sad because, what an extraordinary year it's been!. 

Iga accomplished in 12 months what many players work their entire career for (many never even accomplishing any of them). None of us could have even imagined the heights she would reach.

 

Becoming world #1 the first Polish player man or woman in the history of tennis ever to do so. Have a 37 match win streak (the best this century!). Win 8 titles, 2 of them Grand Slams. Play a full season without injury and have a 67-9 match win/loss record the most of anyone from both tours. 

Win 22 bagel sets. The list goes on and on.  

These are history making stats that no one will ever forget and they're the sort of stats that are associated with legends of the sport. And to think Iga is only 21!.

When you put it all together like that it's no wonder that perhaps Iga felt tired mentally and had nothing more to give in the semi finals. 

Maybe the body was willing but the mind had enough. 

Despite that though she still managed to improve in the final tournament of the season. This time last year in Guadalajara she only won 1 match. 

This year she won all 3 and was top of her round robin group. Even after everything she still had enough energy to finish strong. And you can't ask for more than that from any world class athlete. 

She proved time and time again this year why she is the best in the world and why she deserved that #1 ranking beside her name. 

She made the entire country of Poland feel an abundance of national pride all year long (something we don't always get to feel certainly not to such an extent).  

I hope she enjoys a more than well earned vacation now.  Thank you for the rollercoaster of happiness Iga looking forward to more fantastic emotions in 2023!. 

Jazda!.

Iga Swiatek undefeated in WTA Finals group stages faces Sabalenka in semis

 

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The semifinals are set at the WTA Finals, where No.1 Iga Swiatek will face No.7 Aryna Sabalenka and No.5 Maria Sakkari takes on No.6 Caroline Garcia.

How Swiatek advanced: Won the Tracy Austin Group, going 3-0 without the loss of a aset (d. No.4 Gauff, No.6 Garcia, No.8 Kasatkina)

How Sabalenka advanced: Finished second in the Nancy Richey Group, going 2-1 and losing three sets (d. No.2 Ons Jabeur, No.3 Jessica Pegula; l. No.5 Sakkari).

Head-to-head: Swiatek leads Sabalenka 4-1 and has won all four of their prior meetings this season

Fast facts: Swiatek is the first player to advance to the semifinals at the WTA Finals before turning 22 years old since Petra Kvitova in 2011 ... Swiatek won 40 of her 1st 45 matches as World No.1, bested only by Serena Williams winning 42 of her first 45 ... Swiatek has now won 15 consecutive matches vs. Top 10 opposition, tied for the longest single-season stream in the 2000s.

The World No.1 has picked up right where she left off when she finished the regular season by winning 14 of her past 15 matches, winning the US Open and the San Diego Open to take her tour-leading title court to eight. As she has been throughout her season, Swiatek is the one to beat.

While the rest of the tour was grinding it out at the Guadalajara Open Akron, Swiatek was resting and training in Florida. The results have been evident. Swiatek lost just 13 games during an undefeated run through the Tracy Austin Group, defeating Caroline Garcia, Daria Kasatkina and Coco Gauff.

There will be no secrets when Swiatek faces Sabalenka in the semifinals. It will be their fifth meeting of the season, with Swiatek winning all four this year. It will also be their second meeting at the WTA Finals. Sabalenka bested Swiatek last year in Guadalajara in three tough sets.

Despite the head-to-head, Swiatek is thoroughly aware of the threat Sabalenka presents. Their last meeting came in the US Open semifinals, where Swiatek came from a break down in the third set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Sabalenka advanced to her first knockout stage at the WTA Finals with a little help from her friends. The No.7 seed went 2-1 in the Nancy Richey Group, with wins over No.2 Ons Jabeur and No.3 Jessica Pegula. But she needed Maria Sakkari to take a set off Jabeur in the last group match to book her advancement, and much to her relief, Sakkari won in straight sets to eliminate the Tunisian.

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So that's 22 bagel sets for the year. 

And 67 or 68 wins over all (I've honestly lost count). Just incredible stuff from Iga Swiatek this season.

And to think one year ago at this same tournament Iga only won one match. She lost to the 2 people she'll next be facing in the semis and finals (Sabalenka and possibly Sakkari). 

What a difference a year makes. 

Iga Swiatek avenges Garcia loss clinches WTA Finals semis in Fort Worth

 

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Up a break to open the second set, Iga Swiatek suddenly found herself in a love-40 hole. Her response? She won five straight points -- replete with the requisite fist pumps -- to go up 2-0.

That in a nutshell was how Thursday’s round-robin match went against Caroline Garcia.

The final score was 6-3, 6-2. Swiatek improved to 2-0 at this year’s finals and advanced to the knockout stage as the group winner. Kasatkina and Garcia will play for the No.2 spot on Saturday.

How did Swiatek handle the pressure from the always-aggressive Garcia?

“Don’t cry?” she said jokingly in her on-court interview. “Because, yeah, she was putting a lot of pressure and putting a lot of speed on her balls. I was ready for that.”

More than ready. In the queasy moments with break points in play, Swiatek was masterful. She saved five of the six Garcia managed to force -- and converted four of five against Garcia’s serve.

Back on July 29, Garcia defeated Swiatek 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Poland Open. And while the World No.1 was feeling the unsubtle pressure of playing in her home country, it was a season-altering victory for Garcia.

Swiatek had won 20 matches against the rest of the singles field here at the WTA Finals -- the only loss was to Garcia, who was a mere handful of points better. They came into Thursday’s confrontation with similar records going back to that match: Swiatek was 17-4 (81 percent) and Garcia 16-5 (76 percent).

Based on that recent history, this momentum-fueled matchup promised to be one of the best among the round-robin matches. It didn’t turn out that way.

“The thing is, you have to take some time away from her,” Garcia said in her post-match press conference. “Try to be aggressive, to push her out of her comfort zone. But most of the time, she does it better than you. She really strong, really solid, doesn’t give you a lot of unforced errors.

“As soon as she gets a little bit more space or more of an angle, she makes you feel you’re slower, playing bad, whatever.”

After splitting two matches in both Toronto and Cincinnati, Swiatek is starting to look like the player who won 37 straight matches earlier this year. She won all seven matches at the US Open -- her third major title and the first that wasn’t on clay. After losing a long three-set final in Ostrava to Barbora Krejcikova, Swiatek won the San Diego Open and came into Fort Worth with 14 wins in her past 15 matches.

Thursday’s win was Swiatek’s 14th win of the year against a Top 10 opponent. Through two matches here, she has dropped 10 games and has been broken once.

After her first round-robin victory, Swiatek talked about how the No.1 ranking has, by necessity, brought more maturity to her approach.

“For sure, I am trying to focus more,” Swiatek said. “It’s my goal in this tournament, because in San Diego I felt like I needed to lose on set to get to a different level of focus – maybe because I was tired. But here, I feel like I can just give it all in.

“It’s the last tournament of the season and I have nothing to lose. I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to do next. For sure, I’m committed 100 percent physically and mentally as well.”

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Iga Swiatek begins WTA Finals campaign with a win in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas -- If the dinosaurs had been blessed with Iga Swiatek’s adaptability and survival skills they might not have become extinct 65 million years ago.She grew up in Poland playing on clay and when she broke through with the 2020 title at Roland Garros, some wondered if she was a “clay-court specialist.” 

This year, she became only the fourth woman to win the Sunshine Double, winning all 12 of her matches in the hard-court venues at Indian Wells and Miami.

After calling the Wilson Regular Duty balls of the US Open Series “horrible” in Cincinnati -- the men play with heavier Extra Duty balls -- Swiatek went on to win the US Open.

While grass is by far her least favorite surface -- even in the midst of the greatest year of her life, Swiatek said this grass-court season left her more confused than motivated -- she was the Wimbledon junior champion at the age of 17.

We bring this up because the ongoing WTA Finals in Fort Worth present yet another challenge to Swiatek’s current eminence. The indoor hard courts are exceptionally slow and the ball bounces low. If you don’t really hit the ball, Maria Sakkari said, the ball does nothing. Aryna Sabalenka actually likened it to playing on (the dreaded) grass.

Fears of an allergic reaction Tuesday were unfounded, however. The No.1-seeded Swiatek handled No.8 Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-3 in her first round-robin match from the Tracy Austin Group. It was another lesson in the power of natural selection and Swiatek’s ability to master the variables that professional tennis offers up.

What was Swiatek happiest with in her opening match?

“Well, for sure the start,” she said in her on-court interview. “Because I felt like I can really play aggressively but, on the other hand, with these balls here you have to be really careful. So I wanted to balance it, and I think I did that pretty well at the beginning.

“And that gave me confidence for the rest of the match. I’m happy that we got used to the conditions pretty quickly.”

Swiatek -- still only 21 years old -- won the San Diego Open three weeks ago, playing with Dunlop balls, but these are again those Regular Duty balls of the US Open.


“Right now,” Swiatek said before the tournament, “I need to adjust to the ball. I have to just put more energy in that and in controlling the ball.”

Swiatek, with her western grip, hits a heavy ball to begin with. But practicing before the match, she seemed to be emphasizing particularly aggressive strikes. In the match, she hammered 23 winners, to just five for Kasatkina, and a multitude of heavy, top-spinning balls that Kasatkina scrambled to retrieve. Even the sound -- whoomph! -- was telling and, on several occasions drew a sharp gasp from the crowd at Dickies Arena.

Swiatek rolled out to a 3-0 lead in both sets and was never seriously challenged. In five matches, Kasatkina has yet to win more than three games in a single set. On Tuesday, Swiatek's ability to control the baseline sent Kasatkina scurrying around the court.

This was the fifth career win against Kasatkina, who is ranked a career-high No.8 -- all of them coming in 2022. Swiatek’s burgeoning numbers this season have separated her from the field. This was her tour-leading 13th victory over a Top 10 player, against a single loss. Likewise, her record of 20-1 this year against the rest of the Fort Worth field is dramatically better than the only other two players with a winning mark -- Caroline Garcia (4-2) and Ons Jabeur (7-3).

Moreover, Swiatek is the only Grand Slam singles champion in the draw, a first in the 52-year history of the event.

She’s won eight titles this year; next in line are the four players with three each. Swiatek won four of the year’s eight WTA 1000s -- the other four went to Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Simona Halep and Caroline Garcia. And then there’s Swiatek’s tenure at No.1, which is taking on a historic context.

“Last year I feel I struggled with problem solving,” Swiatek said in her post-match press conference. “This year I feel I have much more control of my emotions in sometimes difficult moments. So it’s easier to think logically about what you want to change or what is the best option to win more points.

“Tennis-wise, I have more skills and more variety I would say I’m getting [to be a] more grown-up player on the court.”

In the wake of Ashleigh Barty’s retirement, Swiatek has been there for 30 consecutive weeks now, the fourth-longest run in history for a first-time No.1, after Stefanie Graf (186), Martina Hingis (80) and Serena Williams (57).

And now, here is a chance to again prove her adaptability and conquer another new frontier. Although the sample size is quite small -- this is only her fourth indoor hard-court tournament at the WTA level -- Swiatek has never won such an event. Interestingly, Kasatkina has won two.

In a season of firsts, it would be another incremental step. Afterward, Swiatek said that seeing herself winning is never part of her pre-match routine.

“Usually I’m using visualization when I feel like my technique is a little bit off,” she said. “Honestly, I forgot to do that today. But usually like technical stuff because I’m not the kind of person who will visualize myself with trophies.”

And, in this season’s remarkable spirit of adaptability, that’s just what happens anyway.

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