Iga Swiatek captured the 2023 WTA Finals crown, breaking several records in the process. A rain- and wind-affected match in Cancun did not stop the 22-year-old from dominating the field and claiming the title without dropping a set.
The win marked the Pole’s first late-season title win and in the process made her world number one for the second consecutive year. She is the sixth youngest female player to rank No. 1 for two consecutive seasons this year. Swiatek’s latest title shot is significant for a number of other reasons. She broke the record held by the great Serena Williams.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has won the WTA Finals five times, the last time in 2014, her third consecutive title. After defeating Jessica Pegula in the final, Swiatek broke the 42-year-old’s record for fewest goals conceded in a WTA Finals.
The French Open champion lost just 20 games to win the title, breaking Williams’ record of 32 conceded games. The WTA’s No. 1 player didn’t get the chance to play against Serena during her illustrious 27-year career. But in 2022, Swiatek spoke at length about Williams’ legacy ahead of the tennis icon playing her final match at the 2022 U.S. Open.
“She’s such a legend,” the three-time Grand Slam champion said. “On the one hand, I’m sad that I couldn’t play against her. Maybe I would have had a chance. But on tour, you know, she won everything. But on the other hand, I probably lost in the quarterfinals She’s a player, so I’m okay with that!”
Swiatek also joins Williams and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova as the third player to win titles at any level in the same season. The American achieved this feat in 2013, while the Czech achieved it in 2011, the same year she won her first Wimbledon title.
In addition to the 2023 WTA Year-End Finals, Swiatek also won the French Open (Grand Slam), the Beijing Championship (WTA Masters 1000 Championship), Doha (WTA 500 Championship) and in his native Poland’s capital Warsaw Winner of the WTA 250 tournament. After losing just one game in the final against Pegula, Swiatek set another record by conceding the fewest goals in the final of this prestigious year-end tournament.
While every tennis player appreciates reaching milestones no one else has achieved, Swiatek, now the fourth player to win the WTA Finals before turning 23, has previously said records are not her motivation. “Honestly, I didn’t even know about the records,” she said during the 2023 French Open.
“I play tennis, but I’m not really an expert when it comes to statistics and history, so I don’t really pay attention to that. I feel like I live in a different world. I’ve never even competed with Serena or Monica Seles played. So, yeah, I lived my life and had my own journey.”