The crown was right there, within reach of the racket, and Iga Swiatek grabbed it tight. Since the surprising retirement of Ashleigh Barty, solid number 1 in the world, the Pole has been the designated heiress. It was enough for him to win a match in Miami to conquer the position vacated by the Australian. Her win against Viktorija Golubic (6-2, 6-0) for her entry into the second round of the tournament closed her spot, which she will release on Monday, April 4.
To celebrate the new queen in front of a stadium with a fairly sparse audience (Monfils had gathered almost as many people on Court 1), the organizers had proposed a small ceremony. James Blake, the manager, and former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport entered the field with wreaths in hand to congratulate the Pole, the first player in her country to reach such a rank.
28
Swiatek becomes the 28th player in history to hold the number 1 in the world.
“It was quite surrealsmiled Swiatek at a press conference. These are special moments that you will remember for the rest of your life, but then again it was just another game. It hit me after the game because during, I was very focused on my performance. † She knew the stakes of this second round meeting, a priori lambda but especially this Friday. And the pressure has been mounting in the past two days.
“It’s something I’m very proud of and it’s a dream come true”
But the 20-year-old player, holder of a Grand Slam title (Roland-Garros 2020), was able to control the moment on the pitch quite well. Focused on her game and ignoring what’s at stake. Very quickly she broke off the score and when Switzerland tried a lot to come back in this first set, she never succeeded. In the second, she barely existed and opened the door to fulfill her opponent’s dream.
Because even without a trophy and in a relatively calm atmosphere, Swiatek was able to enjoy his future position a bit. “It’s something I’m very proud of and it’s a dream come true.she explained. I still believe in myself, but to think I was going to be number 1 seemed crazy to me. I didn’t really know if it was possible. †
At the top and ready to keep fighting
What she knew even less was that it could go so fast. The Pole has barely had time to digest her place as number 2 in the world, which she has only taken since Monday after her title in Indian Wells, when she is rushed a row up there. “I feel like my life is really crazy. Winning Indian Wells and becoming No. 2 was already a chore. Now that I’m the first, it just goes to show that the sport is moving faster and faster. †
The player now has two ideas in mind. First, to be convinced of his legitimacy to hold the position he is entitled to in unusual circumstances. “I always try to remind myself in times like these that it’s not a coincidence, that I’ve worked hard and that I have the skills and capabilities to be here.”hammered on the one who stands on twelve wins in a row and has just won the last two WTA 1000. Her pastor’s mind has everything to remind her that she’s in the right place. “There is no better personsaid Barty. The way she brought that fresh, fearless energy to court is amazing. I think she fully deserves it”
Swiatek’s other goal on the throne is… to settle down properly. “It’s great to be number 1. I definitely want to stay longer in this place and that will be my next goal.”, she explained. Before that, there was nothing like a trophy, she recalled: “There are still games to play and we are only really satisfied with winning the tournament. † The perfect way to enjoy this arrival at the top.
