via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Iga Swiatek has been having quite an impressive season so far. And with the top-ranked Ashleigh Barty announcing her shock retirement, Swiatek, ranked the World No. 2 is slated to take up the top spot. Recently, in a pre-tournament press conference, she had to deal with a question regarding the rankings, and here is how that unfolded!
What the hell is this question https://t.co/MP65r8db59
— Martin (@PojdBase) March 23, 2022
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Iga Swiatek does not know how to answer a question
At the pre-tournament press conferences, a reporter asked a question about this very issue. She was curious as to whether the Pole had any other motivation to become the world number one. “Well, it’s not like I wanted to be World number 1 because ash or any other player is retiring. I always wanted to you know… I don’t honestly know how to answer that. I have many reasons to be No. 1,” she replied to the question.
She started the 2022 season at Adelaide International in January. Seeded fifth, she reached the semi-finals losing to Ashleigh Barty in the semifinal. At the Australian Open, she reached the semi-finals maintaining her record of reaching the second week in a Grand Slam, 6 consecutive times. Her second Masters 1000 title came at the Qatar Total Open where she defeated Maria Sakkari and Anett Kontaveit en route to her title triumph.
She won in Indian Wells last week, another Masters 1000 title, to follow up her win in Doha. In the final in the Californian desert, Swiatek defeated Sakkari in straight sets and that win propelled her to the second spot in the WTA rankings.
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 20, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Iga Swiatek (ITA) holds the championship trophy after defeating Maria Sakkari (GRE) in the women?s final against at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Can Swiatek win the Miami Masters to complete a rare ‘Sunshine Double’?
Ashleigh Barty, the current World No. 1, has called it quits. Her retirement has left the top spot vacant. Barty also confirmed that in the next revision of the WTA rankings list, her name will be removed from the top position. This might promote Iga Swiatek, aged only 20 to the World No. 1 position. As of today, Swiatek is 2204 ranking points behind Barty and 691 points ahead of World No.3, Maria Sakkari.
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Iga Swiatek, known for her clean strokes and her court coverage and speed, will surely get ample opportunities to consolidate her ranking at the top if she becomes the World No. 1. But, for now, she will lock horns against Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in her Round of 64 clash at the Miami Open. After her title triumph in Indian Wells, she is aiming for a rare ‘Sunshine Double’ at the Miami Masters this year.
