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Iga Swiatek emulates tennis icon in stunning 14-year first

Andrew Reid
·4-min read
From left to right, Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek and former Serbian champion Ana Ivanovic.
Iga Swiatek is the first player since Ana Ivanovic in 2004 to win three WTA 1000 titles and a grand slam before the age of 21. Pic: Getty

Iga Swiatek had plenty more to celebrate other than becoming the first Polish woman in history to win the Indian Wells title, with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Maria Sakkari in the final.

The 20-year-old's historic feat also saw her jump up to second in the WTA rankings, putting World No.1 Ash Barty firmly on notice.

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If that wasn't enough for the 2020 French Open champion, the victory also saw Swiatek emulate a former icon of the sport.

Not since Ana Ivanovic in 2008 has a women's star claimed three WTA 1000 titles (top-tier women's events) and a grand slam trophy before their 21st birthday.

The Polish star already had one WTA 1000 title as well as the French Open major to her name before starting the 2022 season.

However, she has now claimed consecutive WTA 1000 tiles in Doha and at Indian Wells to triple her career tally in the extraordinary 14-year first.

Swiatek's victory at Indian Wells was just the fifth WTA title of her burgeoning career, making her remarkable feat all the more impressive.

The 20-year-old has dropped a combined total of 16 games in her past five finals - all of which she has won.

Sunday's scoreline is the same as it was in her 2020 Roland Garros final, where she won her first career title and maiden major.

Swiatek lost each of the first three times she played Sakkari - all last year - but turned that around when they met in the semi-finals in Doha.

Seen here, Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari pose with their trophies after the Indian Wells final.
Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari pose with their trophies after the Indian Wells final. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Both players struggled to find rhythm in the blustery conditions in the California desert, where their first set featured six breaks of serve in what Swiatek called "crazy" conditions.

Trailing 5-4, Sakkari led 40-30 but sent two backhands into the net to give Swiatek a set point, which the Greek saved with forehand winner.

Sakkari came up with a service winner to save another set point, then double faulted to give Swiatek a third chance, the Pole taking the set when Sakkari stroked a backhand into the net.

With a set in hand, Swiatek dominated in the second. Although she couldn't convert two break points in the second game as Sakkari made it 1-1, Swiatek roared through the next six games to close it out in 80 minutes and remain unbeaten in five career WTA finals.

Iga Swiatek closing the gap on World No.1 Ash Barty

"I'm really overwhelmed and honestly my mind is blown," Swiatek said.

"I wasn't expecting to be in that place, honestly, especially after playing so well in previous tournaments I didn't know it was possible for me to play that well that long."

Her new ranking equals the highest ever by a Polish player - matching Agnieszka Radwanska who also got to No.2 in 2012.

While Barty skipped the event in the California desert and ruled herself out of the upcoming Miami Masters, Swiatek has separated herself from the chasing pack.

The 20-year-old leads the tour with 20 match wins in 2022 following her back-to-back title triumphs.

With Barty's return to the WTA tour still up in the air, she is now at huge risk of having her No.1 ranking taken.

with agencies

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