Iga Swiatek Receives Another Special Recognition for Her Breakthrough WTA Season

Rising Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has been voted as the ‘Most Improved Player’ on the WTA circuit in 2020.

Iga Swiatek voted the ‘Most Improved’ WTA player in 2020

Sports journalists from across the world voted for the title and the 19-year-old Pole topped the tally to emerge as the most improved player in the women’s game.

More of an unknown entity before the French Open this year, Swiatek belied her age with her tennis smarts and produced a string of fabulous performances at the Roland-Garros to lift her maiden Grand Slam trophy.

Her win was doubly rewarding as she became the first tennis player from Poland to land a Major title. 

The Pole also became only the second player after Monica Seles to win the French Open at 19.

When Swiatek upset top player to land first Slam title

Her title run at the Roland-Garros saw her break into the Top-20 in the WTA rankings. It also meant significant gains from her 2019 strides which got her in amongst the Top-50 in the women’s game.

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Swiatek ended the season ranked Number 17, showing how far she had come as a professional tennis player in only her second year in the women’s circuit.

Testifying to the supreme confidence and skills that she brought to bear on her opponents at the Roland-Garros, Swiatek didn’t drop a single set and beat the likes of Czech tennis star and 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova, 2018 champion Simona Halep and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin to win her maiden Slam.

How Swiatek signalled intent to make 2020 her breakthrough season

Signalling her intent to make 2020 her breakthrough season, Swiatek made the fourth-round of the Australian Open before bowing out to Estonian Anett Kontaveit in three closely-fought sets.

She also made the third round of the US Open before losing to Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.

Had the season not been cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, she could well have picked up more wins and ranking points on the women’s Tour and finished even higher in the year-end standings.

Be that as it may, the 2021 season does hold the promise of Swiatek cementing her place in the top bracket of women’s tennis and adding more titles to her name.