USA Today via Reuters
Apr 2, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL)(R) holds the Butch Buchholz Championship Trophy as Naomi Osaka (JPN)(R) holds the finalists’ trophy during the awards ceremony after their women’s singles final in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 2, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL)(R) holds the Butch Buchholz Championship Trophy as Naomi Osaka (JPN)(R) holds the finalists’ trophy during the awards ceremony after their women’s singles final in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Iga Swiatek is riding high for quite some time now on the WTA tour. She has now won the titles at the last three tournaments that she participated in. She began the year ranked No. 9 in women’s singles and rose to the no.1 position in no time. To say her path to the top position was impressive would be an understatement.
Iga #Swiatek to Naomi #Osaka: "I am honored to have played this match, I hope it will only be the beginning of a new great rivalry. Keep it up and don’t give up, this sport is better with you" pic.twitter.com/pEV4lQmosA
— Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) April 2, 2022
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She played against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the finals at the Miami Open. While the first set was closely fought with each competing hard to get the better off the other, Swiatek won it 7-5. She managed to turn things around furthr and took the second, 6-0.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 2, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) holds the Butch Buchholz Championship Trophy during the awards ceremony after her match against Naomi Osaka (JPN)(not pictured) in the women’s singles final in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Iga Swiatek says Osaka is an inspiration for her
“Estoy orgullosa de haber jugado contigo, Naomi. Te vi campeona en 2018 y eres una inspiración para mi”, Iga Swiatek.@StarPlusLA ▶️ https://t.co/Bmd2DS6jij pic.twitter.com/jcYKvWu2Ch
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) April 2, 2022
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After the match, Iga Swiatek, the newest conqueror of the ‘sunshine double’ had only words of praise for her opponent. “I am honored to have played this match, I hope it will only be the beginning of a new great rivalry. Keep it up and don?t give up, this sport is better with you,” she said.
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?I am proud to have played with you, Naomi. I saw you champion in 2018 and you are an inspiration to me,” she also added, during the presentation ceremony.
Swiatek in the last two months three has won three WTA 1000 titles, and has been in tremendous form. Because of her back to back wins at Qatar Total Open and at Indian Wells, she rose to the No. 2 spot. With Ashleigh Barty’s untimely retirement, Iga Swiatek rose to the top position, and today with her win at the Miami Open, she showed yet again, why she is worthy of the ranking and all the fanfare surrounding her. Swiatek, just 20 years old, has already achieved so much in her career so far. With six career titles to her name already, the tennis world is surely excited to see where she ends up given how skilled she is and how much potential she has.
