Breaking Barriers: Iga Świątek, Tennis Singles World No. 1Breaking Barriers: Iga Świątek, Tennis Singles World No. 1 – Iga Świątek has spent a total of 108 weeks as the World No. 1, shows no signs of stopping. After her most recent French Open win, she is one of only three players to take the title in three consecutive years. She is also the only player representing Poland who has won a major, with four French Open wins and a US Open win. 22 singles titles belong to her. Świątek took the 2023 WTA Finals, and she has ten WTA 1000 titles as well.

Świątek began playing tennis as a teen when she was encouraged by her father to play an individual sport,. Like any younger sibling, she wanted to beat and be like her older sister, Agata, so she chose tennis. Her career took off. As a junior, Świątek reached a career high ranking of No. 5. From 2016-2018 she won every final she reached in the ITF Women’s Circuit.

She made her debut in the WTA in 2019. A shot she made in the semi-final of the Ladies Open Lugano was voted 2019 WTA Shot of the Year. At age 17, she was in the top 100, and by the end of the season she spent time in the the top 50.

In 2020, Świątek entered the French Open ranked No. 54. With that win, she became the first Polish player to take a major singles title. Additionally, she happened to be the lowest-ranked French Open winner in the history of WTA rankings. Świątek’s was the youngest champion since Nadal in 2005 and the youngest women’s champion since Seles in 1992.

2021 brought Świątek’s first WTA 1000 win at the Italian Open. By May she was ranked World No. 9. That year she was the only player to reach the second week in all four major championships.

Breaking Barriers: Iga Świątek, Tennis Singles World No. 1

Breaking Barriers: Iga Świątek, Tennis Singles World No. 1Świątek’s 2022 season saw her hitting the record books just like Serena Williams in 2013. She finished the year at No. 1. Her win-loss record was 67-9, the most wins in a single season since Williams in ‘13. She was the first to win the French and US Open in the same year since Serena in 2013. Iga’s 2022 ranking points totals were over 11,000. She came in second in WTA points totals to, of course, Serena Williams in 2013. Additionally, she was the youngest woman to complete the Sunshine Double. Świątek’s dominance was showing.

Starting 2023 as only the fourth woman to be ranked world No. 1 for 40 or more consecutive weeks in their first stint, Świątek would go on to win six titles. However, after losing at the US Open, her 75-week streak at No. 1 ended. A few impressive feats helped her gain it back by the end of the season. She won the WTA finals title without dropping a set, the first since Serena Williams did it in 2012. She only dropped 20 games the whole tournament, which beat Williams’ record 32. The record for fewest games lost was also broken with Świątek’s one. Previously, Navarilova in ‘83 and Clijsters in ‘03 each had two losses.

Now, here we are in 2024, and Świątek isn’t letting up. She’s taken a major and four WTA 1000 titles. It seems she has become more comfortable in her time at No. 1. She credits her sports psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, with helping her find balance between personal time and the limelight. Iga likes to read and build LEGO to relax and focus. LEGO happens to be one of her many sponsors. Last year she was the highest paid female athlete in the world, but she’d probably say that doesn’t compare to the note of congratulations Taylor Swift sent after her French Open win.

 

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Libby Koch

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