NEW YORK (AP) — Ahead of the U.S. Open trophy ceremony, Iga Swiatek pulled on a white jacket with “1GA” written in black over her heart — the numeral replacing the “I” of her first name represents her No. 1 ranking.
Above that were three gold stars to reflect her updated total of major championships: There’s the one she won Saturday at Flushing Meadows and the pair from the French Open in 2020 and this June (when her pullover sported two stars).
If Swiatek keeps playing and performing like this, if she manages to remain healthy and grounded, they’re going to need to keep making new jackets for her.
Still just 21 yet already guaranteed a spot on the International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot five years after retirement, Swiatek is quickly establishing herself as a player no one wants to face. Especially in a final. Her 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory over Ons Jabeur in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday gave Swiatek 10 consecutive triumphs in title matches, every one in straight sets.
And to think: This is not her favorite surface, her favorite tennis balls, her favorite weather, her favorite site. Each of Swiatek’s past three trips to New York had ended with third-round exits. She arrived this time with few expectations and zero idea that it would be a two-week stay.
Plus, as big as her forehand is, as skilled a returner as she is — winning half of Saturday’s 10 games served by Jabeur, who didn’t face a single break point in the semifinals — as speedy and full of anticipation as her get-to-every-ball court coverage is, it’s Swiatek’s ability to think her way through the crucible of a match that might be her most valuable ability.
“I’m proud that I have much more solutions and options on court than I had before, tennis-wise, but also mentally. I’m using these skills pretty well. I’m really proud of that, because I just know how it feels to not have ideas on court, not have anything you can change to make the match better,” said Swiatek, the first Polish tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title. “Right now, it’s been a long time since I didn’t have any idea. So that’s great. It shows that I’m actually doing progress.”