Calm and understated, Iga Świątek rarely appears flustered by the triumphant highs and heart-breaking lows of professional tennis, but discovering that she would be crowned world No. 1 for the first time was an exception.
“I remember it was really overwhelming,” says Świątek. “I cried for like 20 minutes.”
That tearful moment of reflection two years ago was just the start. Since rising to the top of the rankings, the Polish star has been a dominant force in women’s tennis, winning 16 titles – 21 in total – and only once dropping from the No. 1 spot for an eight-week period last year.
She is unmatched in her ability to sweep aside opponents in brutal fashion, and her habit of winning sets 6-0 – referred to as a “bagel” – and 6-1 – a “breadstick” – has led to jokes from tennis fans about Świątek running a bakery.
After claiming back-to-back titles in Madrid and Rome, the 22-year-old is in auspicious form as she attempts to win the fifth grand slam of her young career at the French Open, entering the tournament on a 12-match winning streak.
In the current era of women’s tennis, no player has achieved so much in such a short space of time, and even Świątek admits that her success has been a surprise.
“Honestly, it’s hard to get a grasp on it because it all happened so fast,” she tells CNN Sport. “When I was younger, I wouldn’t even expect myself to be in the top five, (let alone) these kinds of stats.
“For sure, I’m proud of myself and of the team, because without them I wouldn’t be in that place.”