adminNEW YORK. — World number one Iga Swiatek says winning her first title on the US Open tennis hard courts provides confidence that the “sky is the limit” for her career.
Poland’s Swiatek (21) became the ninth woman to win a third major title before her 22nd birthday after beating Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in New York on Saturday.
It is her second major win in 2022 and first not on the French Open clay.
“It’s something I wasn’t expecting. I’m proud, a little surprised, and just happy I was able to do it,” she said.
Following the retirement of Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty in March, Swiatek has seized her opportunity to take over as the tour’s dominant player.
Earlier this year, she put together a 37-match winning streak that enabled her to claim six titles in a row – including the French Open at Roland Garros.
After going through an dip that resulted in the streak ending in the Wimbledon fourth round, Swiatek slowly reasserted her authority in New York.
In January, Swiatek was ranked ninth in the world and, following her 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win over Jabeur in New York on Saturday, she said she had doubts at the start of the season about her level.
“I wasn’t sure if I was at the level yet to win a Grand Slam, especially at the US Open where the surface is so fast,” said Swiatek, who also reached the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
“It’s also like a confirmation for me that (the) sky is the limit.”
Jabeur will rise to equal her career-high ranking of second in the world after reaching the US Open final, but Swiatek showed the gulf between her and the rest in a largely dominant performance.
Tunisia’s Jabeur says the world number one’s performances are the standard for her and the rest of the WTA players to follow.
“She’s really set the bar very high. It’s great for our sport,” said the 28-year-old. “I will keep doing my thing and hopefully will catch her.”
After a second successive defeat in a major final, Jabeur said it would be “tough” to get over the loss but remained positive overall following another excellent run at a Grand Slam event.
Jabeur is already thinking about a strong showing at the season-ending WTA Finals and setting herself up for another tilt at the Australian Open in January next year.
“I will maybe show myself (at the Finals) and build more confidence to really get ready for the next season because I feel like I have a lot to show next season,” she said.
“Points-wise, I don’t have points (to defend) in Australia, in the French Open, in Wimbledon, which is a good thing. I’m definitely going for the number one spot.”
In fact, Jabeur struggled to hold back the tears after losing a second consecutive Grand Slam final on Saturday, but while the Tunisian said her US Open defeat to Swiatek was tough to take, she vowed to come back swinging.
The 28-year-old Tunisian, who lost her first Grand Slam title match at Wimbledon in July, was beaten 6-2 7-6(5) by world No 1 Swiatek at Flushing Meadows.
She told reporters that not even the sting of defeat on the sport’s biggest stage could keep her down for long.
“I struggled to win my first WTA title. It took me time. So I believe this will take me time,” said Jabeur, who will regain the world No. 2 ranking after the tournament concludes.
“The most important thing is accepting it, you know, learning from the finals that I lost.”
A crowd favourite in New York for her creative play and ebullient personality, she claimed her first Tour-level title last year in Birmingham, England, nine years after first appearing in a WTA main draw.
She went on a tear this year, winning in Madrid and Berlin, before Elena Rybakina came back from a set down to end her title hopes at Wimbledon.
Jabeur’s march through the Flushing Meadows draw saw her swat aside a red-hot Caroline Garcia in the semifinals but a rocky start against Swiatek proved too much for Tunisia’s “Minister of Happiness.”
“Wimbledon was tough. This one is going to be tough,” she told reporters.
“I’m not someone that going to give up. I am sure I’m going to be in the final again.”
The first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, and first African woman to reach the US Open championship match, Jabeur said her message to the next generation of girls hoping to follow her path was: “Never give up.”
“That’s what I was trying to do all my career. I had some ups and downs. Before, it was injuries and getting to know myself on the court. After, it was losing quarterfinals,” she said.
“Then it evolved to losing finals. Then getting titles.” — BBC Sport.
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