“It all went pretty quickly for me,” Iga Swiatek reflects on not being able to get into the qualifying draw of Rome to becoming a 5-time Grand Slam Champion

Swiatek now has 22 titles, including five Grand Slam wins at just 23.

“It all went pretty quickly for me,” Iga Swiatek reflects on not being able to get into the qualifying draw of Rome to becoming a 5-time Grand Slam Champion

Iga Swiatek (Via Imago)

Iga Swiatek’s journey has been inspirational. Five years ago, she couldn’t make it past the qualifying round of the Italian Open and was without a single title, but was enjoying the experience of playing as a professional. Today, the Polish star became a four-time French Open Champion after beating Italian Jasmine Paolini.

In 2020, during the heat of COVID-19, she shockingly won her maiden Grand Slam at the Roland Garros. The victory brought her to fame, but she has since handled her career both on and off the court. Despite being 19 at that time, she had yet to win a WTA title. It was not until the following year, in March 2021 at the Adelaide 1000 tournament, that she won her maiden WTA title by beating Belinda Bencic.

As a result of the victory, she broke into the Top 15 for the first time. She has since accomplished more than expected. She has now won 22 titles at just 23 years of age and has dominated the WTA this season. This year alone, she has won five titles, two on hard court and three on the clay surface. This year’s clay season would be an unforgettable experience for the World No.1.

Swiatek did the almost impossible after winning three consecutive titles at the back of failing to retain her Stuttgart title. She has proven how much of a player she has grown to be this year. However, recanting her success ladder, she admitted she progressed more quickly than envisaged.

(On the journey of not being able to get in the quallies and now having a title right next to her) --Yeah, it's pretty crazy. In tennis, I feel like this journey. It's pretty fair for everybody. You just have to fight through these moments where you can't get into tournaments and play on ITF level and then start playing on WTA level. But it all went pretty quickly for me, like my progress was basically like that. I never really stopped. I'm for sure proud of it. Yeah, it's weird, but on the other hand it's normal, because I was, what, 18 or something?
Iga Swiatek said in her on court interview after her 2024 French Open win

Now, she would be hoping to take the clay form to the grass season. Swiatek is yet to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Iga Swiatek becomes the women’s player with the most majors among the regular active players

Iga Swiatek had to dig deep in the first set to beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and eight minutes of the French Open final. The Polish star has now won five singles Grand Slam titles, moving her to the same level with tennis legends Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via Imago)

The victory at the Roland Garros makes her the women’s player with the most majors among the regularly active players. Venus Williams, who has singles seven Slams to her name, only competes occasionally this year.

While having won five Grand Slams, one at the US Open and four in the French Open, Swiatek has won more hard-court titles than clay. Out of her 22 titles, she has won 12 on hard court. However, her form at the Roland Garros is near excellent 35-2 and 84-10 on clay surfaces.

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