Watch: Iga Swiatek shows up in a brand new car to collect her Stuttgart trophy
Iga Swiatek notched up her fourth consecutive title of the year, disposing of Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the final of the 2022 Stuttgart Open on Sunday. The World No. 1 lost only one set in the entire tournament, in the semifinals against Liudmila Samsonova. She defeated two seeded players along the way -- Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals and Sabalenka in the final.
The tournament, sponsored by German automaker Porsche, traditionally awards a car in addition to the trophy to the winner. This year, the Pole received a metallic red Porsche Taycan GTS, which she got to drive onto the court prior to receiving the silverware.
Victory lap looks a 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 different in Stuttgart 😏🚗
@iga_swiatek | #PorscheTennis https://t.co/X3DLX4fD7R
After getting the necessary instructions from an organizer seated next to her, a beaming Swiatek carefully drove the car on the wooden support beams leading on to the court, much to the delight of the fans gathered in the arena.
🤙 vibesss 🤙
@iga_swiatek | #PorscheTennis https://t.co/EWJ7gcjP6U
Although the 20-year-old did not appear to be fully satisfied with her parking job, all was soon forgotten as the former French Open winner lifted her first trophy in Germany. The win in Stuttgart marks the seventh WTA title of Iga Swiatek's career, and her second WTA 500 crown (after the 2021 Adelaide International).
@iga_swiatek driving it home from #PorscheTennis!
In 4th gear ⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️
🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek driving it home from #PorscheTennis! https://t.co/xEZgZClawH
Iga Swiatek equals Naomi Osaka's 23-match winning streak from 2020-21
The victory over Aryna Sabalenka was Iga Swiatek's 23rd straight win, a run that stretches all the way back to the Qatar Open. The last time the World No. 1 lost a match was at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she fell to Jelena Ostapenko in three sets.
Since then, the Pole has lost only five sets across 23 matches -- against Viktorija Golubic, Anhelina Kalinina, Clara Tauson, Angelique Kerber and Liudmila Samsonova.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek wins Stuttgart to capture her 4th straight title and 7th career title. The run extends her winning streak to 23 matches, tying Naomi Osaka’s streak from 2020-21.
The 20yo joins this list of longest win streaks since 2000: https://t.co/HQl1Vcw37B
Swiatek has now tied Naomi Osaka's winning streak of 23 matches from 2020-21. During this period, the Japanese won two Grand Slams.
days!
5️⃣ days!
#MMOPEN https://t.co/Cx75Ev3wLP
With one more win, Swiatek will tie Justine Henin and Venus Williams' streak of 24. However, the longest winning streak in this millennium belongs to Venus Williams. In 2000, the seven-time Grand Slam champion won 35 consecutive matches between Wimbledon and the Generali Ladies Linz in Austria.
The feat is not beyond the World No. 1's reach. Swiatek is scheduled to play at both the Madrid Open and Rome Open in the lead-up to the French Open, where she will attempt to win her second Grand Slam title.
Although the Pole lost out in the third round in Madrid last year to eventual runner-up Ashleigh Barty, she is the defending champion in Rome, where she won her first ever WTA 1000 title.