As she is the 10th WTA player to hold the top spot in the world rankings for 80 weeks, Iga Swiatek created a little bit of history on Monday. On April 4, 2022, Swiatek, who is 22 years old, she rose to the top of the world rankings for the first time. Swiatek held the number one spot in the world for 75 weeks in a row while she was the top seed.
Following the US Open this year, Swiatek lost her ranking as the world’s top player to Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings after winning the WTA Finals in early November. Swiatek began her 80th week at the top of the world rankings on Monday.
Prior to now, Swiatek had surpassed Caroline Wozniacki at the 10th rank for the most weeks spent at the top when she began her 72nd week at the top of the world rankings.
Sabalenka lost the top spot in the world to Swiatek, who did so with remarkable style.
It wasn’t exactly Swiatek’s best chance to reclaim the top spot in the world because Sabalenka had everything in her control when she arrived in Cancun.
However, Swiatek defeated Sabalenka in the semifinals and went 5-0 in Cancun. Swiatek reclaimed her top ranking in the world and made sure she would begin as the No. 1 in consecutive seasons by going a flawless 5-0 and defeating Sabalenka in the semifinal.
Swiatek said she didn’t truly anticipate it to happen in 2023 after ranking back at No 1. “The conditions here were kind of tricky – it helped me to just focus on my footwork, my shots, and that just kept me busy from thinking about all of that.
Coming back to world No 1, it’s a dream come true for sure. I would say I wasn’t expecting that right now this season. I was kind of hoping that maybe next year is going to be my year. But it seems like I’m just working hard and focusing on the right things and work. So I’m really happy,” Once regaining the top spot in the world rankings in November, Swiatek stated.