Iga Świątek brushed apart Jessica Pegula to win the WTA Finals on Monday and return to the highest of the world rankings.
The 22-year-old breezed to a straight-sets victory – 6-1 6-0 – needing lower than an hour to beat her American opponent in a rain-delayed ultimate in Cancún, Mexico.
The win means Świątek replaces Aryna Sabalenka because the world No. 1, having conceded the place at this 12 months’s US Open.
“Coming again to world primary, it’s a dream come true, for positive,” Swiatek informed reporters after successful her first WTA Finals title.
“I’d say I wasn’t anticipating that proper now, this season. I hoped that perhaps subsequent 12 months goes to be my 12 months, nevertheless it looks as if , simply working exhausting and specializing in the best issues on the finish labored. So I’m actually joyful.”
Since her last-16 defeat on the US Open, Świątek has gained 12 out of the 13 matches she’s performed, choosing up titles on the China Open and now Cancún.
Dominant ultimate
Świątek was unbeaten on the $9 million end-of-year championships – underlining her present dominance within the sport – with Pegula failing to make a dent within the Pole’s recreation.
“I need to thank my workforce who’ve been with me for the entire season,” Swiatek added through the trophy ceremony.
“We’ve had many ups and downs however that is for positive an up, and we’ll have many extra if we maintain working like that.”
Each ladies had not misplaced a set at this 12 months’s WTA Finals, however Świątek shortly modified that dynamic within the ultimate because the French Open champion raced out of the blocks to wrap up the primary set in simply 27 minutes.
The second set proved even bleaker for Pegula, with the world No. 5 failing to win a single recreation.
“She performed actually strong,” mentioned Pegula after the ultimate.
“I felt like she actually was placing lots of strain on me. And I feel I simply was overplaying so much right now. I don’t know why.
“It simply was a kind of days the place I felt like I used to be going for an excessive amount of.”
Controversial event
The ultimate had initially been scheduled for Sunday, however poor climate meant the match was pushed again a day.
It capped off a controversial WTA Finals, with gamers sad with the organisation of the occasion, run by the Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA).
There had been various complaints from stars through the event, with Sabalenka the primary to voice her displeasure by saying she felt “disrespected” by the extent of group and the “unsafe” normal of the courts.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova informed Amazon Prime that “perhaps it’s time for brand spanking new management” on the head of the WTA, with the group’s chief Steve Simon coming underneath rising strain.
In an open letter to the gamers leaked to Sports activities Illustrated, Simon mentioned the choice to pick Cancún because the host venue was “based mostly on various difficult elements.”
“It’s clear you aren’t proud of the choice to be right here in Cancún,” the letter learn. “I perceive that and you’ve got been heard.
“It’s not an ideal occasion, we perceive the situations are a problem and the WTA accepts duty for that.”
In an announcement to CNN after the event, the WTA mentioned it was “based by gamers aiming to unite all of ladies’s skilled tennis into one tour, and gamers have all the time been equal decision-makers to make sure a robust route for ladies’s tennis.”
It added: “The energy of the voices of the gamers … have helped usher in dramatic development for the Tour and helped the WTA ship a rise of $400 million in compensation to gamers over the following 10 years, sustaining the WTA’s place because the main ladies’s sports activities group globally.
“We’re happy with these efforts and likewise know there may be extra work to do. Adjustments can take time, however the whole lot we do is a direct results of collaboration and open dialogue.
“As we’ve shared with gamers, the WTA is actively implementing particular enhancements, and we’re dedicated to reviewing proposals from gamers whereas sustaining a robust future for the Tour and girls’s tennis.”
Though not good, it was a particular event for the four-time grand slam champion Świątek.
She thanked her followers in Mexico for toughing out the stormy situations and supporting her all through her profession.
“Thanks guys for coming and cheering for us. You actually made it particular. Thanks for all these Polish flags and the Polish folks for coming to each event, but additionally general from many international locations,” Świątek mentioned, addressing the followers in her victory speech.
“Yearly I really feel I’ve extra assist and it actually retains me pushing for extra.”
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