Iga Swiatek won her second French Open title on Saturday, beating in-form Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3. The Pole, a heavy pre-tournament favourite, lived up to the expectations and buzz surrounding her in Paris.
The World No. 1 had won five titles this year coming into Roland Garros, including four at the WTA 1000 level. She took over the No. 1 ranking in early April and now has nearly twice as many points as World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit.
Her family has played an instrumental role in her rise to the top. The 21-year-old’s mother Doria Swiatek is a dentist and her father Tomasz Swiatek specialized in the sport of rowing and represented Poland at the Olympics. Her sister Agata is a dentistry student at the Medical University of Lublin.
Tomasz tried to get both of his daughters into sports, specifically individual sports, to have a better chance at success. While Agata initially took to swimming, she later switched to tennis. After briefly competing in the ITF Junior Circuit, she quit the sport following injury troubles.
During an interview in 2018, the Polish star revealed that her father was always keen to nurture their talent in sports and tennis in particular.
“My father always liked tennis and he wanted his daughters to play. Growing up, I played tennis because I had a lot of energy as a kid. Tennis was a chance for me on the court and make my own decisions,” she said.
In a recent interview, she also joked that her father only agreed to travel with her after she won the 2022 Stuttgart Open.’
“And thank you to my dad, who finally decided that he’s gonna come with me to tournaments,” she said.Iga Swiatek is one win away from breaking Venus Williams’ 35-win record from 2000
Iga Swiatek and her team pose with the 2022 French Open title.
Iga Swiatek and her team pose with the 2022 French Open title.
Iga Swiatek has equalled Venus Williams’ tally of 35 straight wins for the longest winning streak held by a woman in the 21st century. The Pole has absolutely obilerated her opponents in the last four months and is by far the best women’s player on tour.
Her streak started at the WTA Qatar Open in February when she outwitted Victorija Golubic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Since then, the World No. 1 has won six titles on the bounce, including her triumph at the French Open. The Pole has dropped just five sets in her last 33 matches.
