Iga Swiatek hits 100-match world No. 1 milestone with same record as Serena Williams after Poland Open win
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Published 02/08/2023 at 22:43 GMT
Iga Swiatek has reached another milestone as she has become the first world No. 1 to play 100 matches since Serena Williams. She is also in her 70th week as No. 1 and next week will move level with Caroline Wozniacki in the all-time standings. Swiatek has compiled the same win-loss record of 87-13 as Williams during her 100-match spell as world No. 1.
'It means a lot' - Delight for Swiatek after winning Warsaw Open
Iga Swiatek *handshake emoji* Serena Williams.
With her title win on home soil at the Poland Open, Swiatek has become the first player since Williams to have played 100 matches as world No. 1.
She has also posted the same win-loss record of 87-13 as Williams over those 100 matches.
Swiatek took over as WTA No. 1 in April 2022 following Ashleigh Barty’s retirement.
Barty spent 121 weeks in total as world No. 1 and finished as year-end No. 1 for three consecutive years from 2019. However, she missed almost the entirety of the 2020 season following the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and although she was excellent on her return in 2021, she only played 50 matches, posting a 42-8 record.
Swiatek is the first player to hit 100 matches as world No. 1 since Williams did so during her spell at the top from 2013 to 2016.
She is the eighth player in history to reach the milestone after Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin, and Williams.
Swiatek is currently into her 70th week as world No. 1, one behind Caroline Wozniacki, who is making a stunning return to the tour next week after stepping away from the sport three years ago.
After catching Wozniacki to move into 10th place on the all-time standings for weeks at No. 1, next on the list for Swiatek will be Lindsay Davenport, who spent 98 weeks at the top of the rankings.
However, Swiatek is under pressure from world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.
Had Sabalenka made the final at Wimbledon she would have got to the top of the WTA rankings for the first time, but she was beaten in three sets by Ons Jabeur in the semis.
The opportunity is still there for Sabalenka, though.
Swiatek extended her advantage over Sabalenka to 645 points with victory in Warsaw.
But with back-to-back WTA 1000 events coming up before the US Open, there will be opportunities for Sabalenka to make up ground on Swiatek - and possibly overtake her.
‘Swiatek must be feeling invincible right now’
Swiatek has not been as dominant this season as she was in 2022, but she has still won a tour-leading four titles, including the French Open.
Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu thinks Swiatek must be flying high right now.
Andreescu had a breakout year in 2019 when she won Indian Wells, the Canadian Open and the US Open. She says she can relate with Swiatek’s position.
“I do remember that feeling [of being invincible] and I would love to get back there,” she told the No Challenges Remaining podcast.
“I know Iga is there right now…it's incredible what she's doing and I really want to get to that point.
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“It is definitely a good feeling. It just comes with momentum, playing matches, being healthy. And that's not really what I have had over the last few years.”
After winning in Warsaw, Swiatek is set to play the Canadian Open next week.
Swiatek lost in the last 16 of the Canadian Open a year ago so has room for improvement and a chance to extend her lead as world No. 1.
She will be defending champion at the US Open, which starts on August 28.
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