Iga Swiatek was six weeks away from becoming a member of illustrious record earlier than US Open loss
Four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was simply six weeks away from cementing her title in tennis historical past, however a US Open defeat by Jelena Ostapenko noticed her fall simply brief. The Polish star spent an unimaginable 75 weeks because the World No. 1 however didn’t make it into the highest 10 record of gamers with essentially the most consecutive weeks at No.1 following her round-of-16 conflict.
Swiatek’s defeat got here in opposition to world No. 5 Ostapenko on the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows. The 22-year-old began strongly to say the primary set 6-3, however ran out of steam dropping the following two 3-6 and 1-6.
The defeat will see her drop off the world No. 1 spot for the primary time in 75 weeks. The rating will then be handed to Belarusian, Aryna Sabalenka, who gained her first singles Grand Slam on the Australian Open in January.
Although the defeat will weigh closely on Swiatek’s shoulders, so will the considered coming near a historic milestone. Her time on the prime spot noticed her come six weeks away from that includes within the prime 10 of essentially the most consecutive weeks at No. 1.
Swiatek’s closest competitors within the chart is former Swiss participant Martina Hingis who recorded a run of 80 weeks on the prime. While the file could be a formidable achievement, Swiatek would nonetheless be manner off the highest spot.
Former tennis icons Setffi Graf, who gained 23 Grand Slam titles, and Serena Williams, profitable 39 total, sit on the prime with runs off 186 consecutive weeks.
Despite lacking out on the file, Swiatek nonetheless has age on her aspect at simply 22-years-old and nonetheless holds declare to turning into the primary Polish No.1 in tennis historical past. Although she did admit that holding on to the file would have been preferrred, saying “I would love to extend this record a little bit longer.”
Following the end result Swiatek mirrored on what she would have modified. “There are plenty of things that I know I should have done differently,” she mentioned. “Maybe I’m not mature sufficient but to do this.
“I’m really working hard to not think about this stuff a lot. Sometimes when you force yourself not to think about stuff, the result is the opposite.”
Ostapenko is set to play American tennis star Coco Gauff within the quarterfinals tomorrow. The Latvian managed to succeed in the quarterfinals final yr, her greatest end at Flushing Meadows, and will likely be hoping to go one higher this yr.