Iga Swiatek says her latest Grand Slam win at the US Open could prove to be a pivotal moment in her career.
The world No.1 defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets to claim her third major title at the age of 21. Becoming the youngest player on the WTA Tour to do so since Maria Sharapova. It is the first time she has won a Grand Slam on a hardcourt after previously winning the French Open on two separate occasions.
Swiatek’s run in New York has seen her beat a top 10 player three times in a row. Before Jabeur, she also defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals and Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals. The triumph comes during what has been a standout season for the Pole who at one stage won 37 matches in a row.
Reflecting on her maiden US Open success, Swiatek has hailed it as a massive psychological boost for her and the future of her game as she declares that ‘the sky is the limit.’
“At the beginning of the season I realized that maybe I can have some good results on WTA events,” she said during her press conference. “I also made it to the semi-final of the Australian Open.
“But I wasn’t sure if I was on the level yet to win a Grand Slam, especially at the US Open where the surface is so fast.
“It’s something that I wasn’t expecting for sure. It’s also like a confirmation for me that sky is the limit.
“I’m proud, also surprised little bit, just happy that I was able to do that.”
As to what areas of her game she is most proud of, Swiatek said it is her mental toughness during matches. A long-time member of her team has been sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz who is credited for aiding her rise in the sport. She is coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski who is the former mentor of Agnieszka Radwanska.
“I’m mostly proud of the fact that mentally I’m not kind of breaking up in those important moments. After the matches, even the ones I lose, I kind of have no regrets because I know I’m doing 100%.” She explains.
“I’m proud that I have much more solutions and options on court than I had before tennis-wise but also mentally. I’m using these skills pretty well.”
As for what the future might have in store, Swiatek states that she isn’t getting too carried away just yet.
“I’m going to observe and learn. For the future, I know I still have a lot to improve on court. That’s something that I’m excited for because maybe it’s just going to get easier to play these matches.” She concluded.
Swiatek is the first player to win 10 consecutive WTA Finals in straight sets since 2000, as well as the first to win seven titles within the same season since Serena Williams in 2014.
