Iga Swiatek produced an emphatic display to claim her first-ever WTA Trophy on home soil at the Warsaw Open on Sunday.
The world No.1 stormed to a 6-0, 6-1, win over Laura Siegemund in a one-sided final. Swiatek won 53 out of 77 points in the match and dropped only six points behind her serve during the 69-minute encounter. The victory came shortly after she completed her semi-final win over Yanina Wickmayer which was suspended on Saturday due to poor light at 5-5 in the second set. She beat the Belgian 6-1, 7-6(6).
This latest victory gives Swiatek her fourth title of the season and her 15th overall. She has become the first Polish woman in the Open Era to have won a Tour event in her home country. Furthermore, out of players who began their careers during the Open Era, only Elina Svitolina has played fewer finals to win 15 titles. Svitolina reached the mark after playing 19 finals compared to Swiatek who played 18.
“I am glad that despite the hard beginning in the first round I could play better and better and show what I can do,” said Swiatek who didn’t drop a set throughout the entire tournament.
“It surprises me but this tournament is on par with Roland Garros when it comes to stress levels. I am proud that I managed to survive it,” she added.
Besides the pressure of trying to delight her home fans, Swiatek had an added incentive due to her family. Her father Tomasz is a former Olympic rower who is the organizer of the WTA 250 event.
“It was not easy to play here, because for half a year we have only talked about it at home,” she revealed.
“My dad is involved in organizing this tournament. I know how much heart he put into it. I also gave it my all this week, and he gives his all, all the time, just like the tournament directors.’
“I hope dad that you have fulfilled your ambitions and now you will start resting.”
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Siegemund can take some positives from Warsaw where she reached her first Tour title match since 2017. The German appeared far from her best against Swiatek which can be linked to the six hours of tennis she played on the previous day. Due to poor weather earlier in the tournament, she had to play back-to-back matches on Saturday.
“Laura, what you did yesterday was pretty surreal. I don’t know if anyone would be able to survive that, but you did,” Swiatek said to her opponent. “Congratulations for this run, because it’s been a pretty great week, and it’s nice that we could play this final.”
Swiatek has now recorded 45 wins this year which is more than any other player on the WTA Tour. Tomorrow she will begin her 70th consecutive week at the top of the rankings which began on April 4th 2022.
Note: quotes via sport.pl/WTA
