Swiatek happy to “emerge from the shadow” of her fantastic 2022 season

The Pole won the WTA Finals for the first time in her career and ends the year ranked No 1 for the second year in a row

November 7, 2023

At the start of the season, all eyes were on Iga Swiatek, world No 1, winner of two Grand Slams in 2022 and more than ever the undisputed leader of the women’s tour. While the Pole took some time to digest her formidable season, she finally accepted that it would be almost impossible for her to repeat it in 2023.

But by winning the WTA Finals on Monday night after a truly stunning display in the final against Jessica Pegula (6-1, 6-0), Swiatek, who did not lose a set all week, concluded a high-flying 2023 season. With six titles to her name, including another Grand Slam crown, and finishing the year as the world No 1, the Pole has managed to emerge from the shadow of her 2022 season.

“The 2022 season was so great that I didn’t know if it would be possible for me to repeat such a year,” Swiatek said. “In the end, I didn’t feel like I was in the shadow of last year because I knew I was having another great season.

“And honestly, I kind of accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to have a season like this, like 2022, and I just looked forward. I learned my lesson and this time I didn’t want the rankings to have any impact on me. It kind of does – it’s hard not to think about things like that – but actually, when I stepped onto the court, I knew I had to focus on other things.”

SWIATEK ON ENDING YEAR AS NO 1: “A DREAM COME TRUE”

In Cancun, the tennis world rediscovered the indestructible Swiatek, in steamroller mode. The Pole lost just 20 games all week, making her the first player in history to have conceded fewer than 25 games to win the WTA Finals, beating Serena Williams’ record of 32 set in 2012.

At her press conference, the Polish player was obviously very pleased with her level of play. She also spoke of her return to the world No 1 spot at the expense of Aryna Sabalenka, who had been the new WTA boss since the US Open, and said the fact that it had been windy had actually helped her.

“The conditions here were a bit difficult – it helped me to concentrate on my footwork, my shots, and it allowed me not to think about any of that,” she said.

“To return to world No 1 is a dream come true. I’d say I wasn’t expecting that this season. I was hoping that next year would be the year. But I seem to be working hard, concentrating on the right things. So I’m very happy.”