As Iga Swiatek departed the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday night, waving farewell to the fans that chanted her name until the finish, she allowed herself a brief smile.
It was not the way Swiatek has concluded many tournaments of this glittering season, meekly relinquishing the third set 6-1 to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final of the WTA Finals,
but the mental fatigue had long set in. What she had already achieved this year was enough.
The numbers alone reflect the significance of Swiatek’s achievements this year, one of the greatest seasons of the 21st century.
The Pole won two grand slam titles, including her first on hard courts at the US Open. She has been No 1 for eight months and counting, her points total of 11,085 more than double that of the No 2, Ons Jabeur, who holds 5,055 points.
