Iga Swiatek is still just 22-years-old. That is sometimes difficult to believe given how much she has already achieved in the game. The Pole is a four-time Grand Slam champion, as well as a five-time WTA Masters champion. This week Swiatek equalled another milestone, one that was achieved by Caroline Wozniacki, who is making her return to tennis at this week’s Masters 1000 event in Montreal.
Swiatek levels Wozniacki’s record
Swiatek has now been the #1 player in the world for 71 consecutive weeks. That is a truly extraordinary show of consistency from someone as young as Swiatek. It also means the three-time French Open champion has moved level with Wozniacki for weeks at #1. The 2018 Australian Open champion has also spent 71 weeks at #1 during her career, although not consecutively consecutively like Swiatek. Swiatek and Wozniacki are now joint tenth on the all-time list for weeks at #1 in the world.
Wozniacki had a superb first stage of her career. But Swiatek already pulling levelling a number of such a high-calibre player is incredible. Although clay is Swiatek’s best surface, this achievement shows her consistency throughout the whole season whilst her US Open title last year is proof of her hard-court credentials.
It is mathematically possible for Swiatek to lose her spot at #1 in Montreal, however. If Aryna Sabalenka wins the tournament, the four-time Grand Slam champion needs to reach at least the quarterfinals to remain at the top of the rankings. The odds are still in the favour of a player of the Pole’s class achieving that. But she will leave no stone unturned to remain the #1 female player in the world. The unusual training method Swiatek has been seen using in Montreal proves that.
Which players have the most weeks at #1?
Swiatek has much work ahead of her to overtake the five women with the most weeks at #1. Martina Hingis is in fifth place with 209 weeks, while 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert is fourth with 260 weeks. In third place and the most recently retired player on the list is Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was at the rankings summit for 319 weeks.
Chris Evert’s great rival Martina Navratilova is second. Navratilova also won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, and was #1 for 332 weeks. The woman with the most weeks ever at #1 is Steffi Graf. The 22-time Grand Slam champion spent 337 weeks at #1. This was a record for the WTA and ATP tours until being overtaken by Novak Djokovic.
Swiatek remains a long way behind those numbers. But she is still so young and talented, and has much time to make up the ground. Her 71 weeks at #1 have attracted many new fans to tennis, which is why commentators like Jimmy Arias are so wrong about her not being good for the women’s game.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
