Iga Swiatek surpasses Rafael Nadal for most match wins in 2022
Iga Swiatek's 6-2, 6-0 victory over Vikrotja Golubic in the second round of the 2022 Miami Open on Friday clinched her the World No. 1 ranking. The Pole will ascend to the top of the rankings on Monday following Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement earlier this week.
The victory was Swiatek's 21st of the season, making her the player with the most match wins in 2022. The 20-year-old overtook her idol Rafael Nadal, whose 20-match unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Taylor Fritz in the final of the Indian Wells Masters.
Iga Swiatek in 2022:
- Tour-leading 21-3 record
- No.1 on the Race to the WTA Finals
- 4-1 vs. Top 10
- 1st AO Semi
- 2 WTA 1000 titles (Doha, Indian Wells), tied for title lead with Barty
- Current 12-match win streak
- 1st player since 2009 to win 5 career titles before 21. https://t.co/REUQcEYbDd
Iga Swiatek has had a stellar start to 2022. The Pole has answered any and all questions regarding her abilities on hardcourt.
The 20-year-old started her season by reaching the semifinals in Adelaide and the Australian Open. She was defeated by eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round in Dubai, and has been unbeaten since.
Swiatek picked up back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Indian Wells. She has already defeated Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Anett Kontaveit, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, and Angelique Kerber this year.
The Pole would have gained plenty of confidence in her victory over Golubic as she looks to win a third consecutive WTA 1000 title in Miami.
Iga Swiatek becomes youngest WTA World No. 1 since 2010
By clinching the World No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings at 20 years and 308 days of age, Iga Swiatek will become the youngest player to be at the top of the world rankings since Carolina Wozniacki in 2010. She will also overtake Chris Evert to become the 10th youngest WTA World No. 1 in the history of the rankings.
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@iga_swiatek is the π³πΆπΏππ Polish player in tennis history to become singles World No.1 π΅π±
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In her short career so far, Swiatek has already achieved plenty of accolades. The 20-year-old won the French Open back in 2020 as a teenager, Adelaide and Madrid in 2021, and Qatar and Indian Wells this year.
The Pole will be excited heading into the clay season as the top-ranked women's player, but with Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, and Anett Kontaveit hot on her heels, she is not guaranteed to be the top seed at the French Open yet.