3 milestones Iga Swiatek could achieve at Wimbledon 2024
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is gearing up to launch her bid for a maiden title at Wimbledon, which begins from Monday, July 1. She has been the woman to beat the last few months and completed the clay swing on a high.
The Pole captured titles in Madrid and Rome, and then went on to claim her fifth Major title at the French Open. She has arrived at Wimbledon on a 19-match winning streak, the longest unbeaten run since she won 37 straight matches herself a couple of years ago.
Swiatek's unbeaten run in 2022 came to an end in the third round of Wimbledon at the hands of Alize Cornet. She will be eager to avoid the same fate this time, though she's up against a tough opponent right off the bat.
Swiatek will take on Sofia Kenin in the opening round, who eliminated Coco Gauff in the first round here last year. The Pole has won both of their prior matches but one cannot count out the American.
While her path to the final may be rocky, she remains on course to script more history. Here's a look at the few milestones that Swiatek could attain with a win at Wimbledon:
#3 - Winning a Grand Slam title on three different surfaces
Swiatek's first Major triumph came on the red dirt in Paris as she romped to a dominant win at the 2020 French Open. She won her second Grand Slam title at the same venue two years later. The Pole would add a different Major to her resume with a triumph at the US Open the same year.
Swiatek has since bagged a couple of more titles at Roland Garros. Having secured titles on clay and hardcourts, a win at Wimbledon would ensure that she has at least one Grand Slam title on all three surfaces.
Only five women in the Open Era have won a Major title on across three different surfaces. Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova are the only women to have accomplished this feat.
Winning a title on various surfaces showcases a player's versatility, and the ability to adapt as well. Having established her dominance on clay and hardcourts, Swiatek will be keen to do the same on grass.
#2 - Completing the Channel Slam
With only three weeks between the conclusion of the French Open and the start of Wimbledon, players don't have enough prep time to get used to grass. The ones who make it deep in Paris are more at a disadvantage as they usually compete in only one warm-up event before Wimbledon, or none at all, like Swiatek this year.
Thus, completing the "Channel Slam" - winning the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively - is one of the hardest tasks to achieve in tennis. Many players have won multiple Major titles but have failed to win these two one after the other.
Eight women have achieved this feat in the Open Era thus far. Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navaratilova, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams. All of them have etched their names in tennis history.
Swiatek now has an opportunity to join these legends by following in their footsteps. However, even if she fumbles now, she's going to have plenty of chances to accomplish this in the future given her dominance at the French Open.
#1 - Becoming the 11th player to win six Major titles in the Open Era
Swiatek's latest triumph at the French Open helped her secure a fifth Grand Slam title. She's currently tied with Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova, who also have five Major trophies.
If Swiatek manages to hoist the winner's trophy here in two weeks' time, then she would become the 11th player to claim six Major titles in the Open Era. No other player has only six titles at the moment. The Pole would then trail Venus Williams, Justine Henin, and Evonne Goolagong, who all have seven titles each.
Since Sharapova won her fifth Major title in 2014, only Naomi Osaka came close to matching her by winning four titles between 2018 and 2021. However, Swiatek has eclipsed all of her peers in recent years with her determination and dominance. Regardless of what happens at Wimbledon, she's bound to increase her Major tally over the years.