Iga Swiatek apologized to fans at the San Diego Open after declining to hand out her rackets following her semi-final win on Saturday.
The world No.1 is through to her ninth title match of the season after bouncing back from a set down to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Claiming her 63rd win of 2022 and her 12th over a top 10 player. Swiatek’s latest win also means that she is guaranteed to finish the season with more than 10,000 points. Something that has only been previously achieved by Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
In her latest match, which was interrupted by rain, Swiatek won 64% of her service points and broke Pegula five times. She now leads the American 4-1 in their head-to-head.
“I was leading in the first set so I knew I had the game to win this match but I lost my focus in the middle of the set,” Swiatek said afterwards.
“I didn’t want to make that mistake again so I came back and I wanted to be really composed and not lose those important moments,” she added.
In the immediate aftermath of her victory, Swiatek gave her sweatband to a member of the crowd in a tradition that has occurred in the sport for years. Although, some enthusiastic fans in the crowd asked if they could have her rackets. However, the Pole politely explained that she is unable to do so.
Swiatek will be hoping to continue her almost perfect record in America on Sunday when she plays for her 11th Tour title. This year she has won 23 out of 24 matches in the country with her only loss being to Madison Keys at the Western and Southern Open.
The top seed will play either Danielle Collins or Donna Vekic in the final. Collins was leading the Croat 4-6, 6-4, 4-2, in their semi-final match before it was suspended due to adverse weather.
