World No. 1 Iga Swiatek wins her third major title at the US Open
Iga Swiatek (L) and Anna Smith during the first set.
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Iga Swiatek became the first non-American female to finish atop the WTA rankings since Lisa Raymond claimed the #2 spot in 1985. Swiatek had won the title twice before in 2000 and 2011.
Swiatek defeated a pair of former No. 1 seeds Anna Smith and Roberta Vinci to win the US Open title by a comfortable half-point in 4 hours and 44 minutes. The 27-year-old swished two aces to take a 3-0 lead in the final set, then earned game points to pull away for a 3-0 win. It was her third US Open title, following runner-up doubles in 2001, and her third Grand Slam singles title overall.
Swiatek, who was in attendance at the final, was the youngest winner since Venus Williams was 14 when she claimed the 2003 title. Just 19 when the win was announced, she had reached the fourth round at her previous five consecutive major tournaments.
The last American to win three singles titles at a Grand Slam was Billie Jean King in 1973, and she was the last woman to have done so at the US Open for more than 20 years.
Swiatek was also the youngest woman to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam since Lisa Joyce did it in 1978 at the Australian Open. Joyce, who was 15 when she reached the quarterfinals, was also the youngest American to make it to a quarterfinal at a major at age 16.
Swiatek will move on to face world No. 1 Serena Williams in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday. Williams defeated a resurgent Madison Keys in the final at the Australian Open on Saturday night.
Swiatek’s win is the first Grand Slam singles title for the 14-time major singles champion. She also finished second at the French Open in 2007. She won 14 Grand Slam titles in singles, and four in doubles.
Vinci, who had previously won the title in 2011, finished with a runner-up showing to move into a top 10 spot in the world for the first time. She now has a 3-7 record against No.
