Iga Swiatek ‘living dream’ & ‘wasn’t expecting’ to hit peak so young

Iga Swiatek has admitted she has surprised herself with her stellar results this season after picking up another win at the San Diego Open. 

The world number one defeated Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 for her 61st win this year. Swiatek is the first player to win 60 matches in a WTA season since Caroline Wozniacki won exactly that many in 2017.

“It’s pretty amazing,” the Pole said in her post-match interview. “I wasn’t expecting to have this kind of season this year. I thought maybe [I’d] be at my peak when I’m 24, 25 and have that experience. Maybe results like that are going to come.

“I’m pretty happy that I’m able to give my all right now and to play well and to be in that place. As I said in Ostrava my dreams are coming true. So I’m pretty proud of myself and the team. That they are preparing me and I am able to play good until the end of the season.”

 

 

Iga Swiatek was thrust into the number one spot after Ashleigh Barty announced her shock retirement soon after clinching the Australian Open. Since then the 21-year-old has dominated the women’s game with four titles to add to the three she claimed in 2022 before topping the rankings.

With two Slam titles at the French Open and in New York, Swiatek holds 10,485 ranking points. That is more than double second ranked Ons Jabeur’s tally of 4,885. Next up, Swiatek will contest a rematch of the French Open final with young American Coco Gauff.

“I know it’s going to be a tough match,” she said of the battle to come. “This tournament the draw is so good that I wasn’t expecting any easy matches. So I’m going to try to recover well and get ready.”

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