Iga Swiatek breaks decade long record of Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki as she qualifies for the WTA Finals 2023
Iga Swiatek becomes the youngest player since Azarenka and Wozniacki to qualify for WTA Finals.
Follow Us
Iga Swiatek (Image via Outlook)
Women’s Tennis Association(WTA) World No.2 Iga Swiatek has broken a record. She is now the youngest player since Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka to appear in the WTA Finals for three consecutive seasons. Wozniacki and Azarenka previously held the record during the span of 2009-2011.
Former World No.1 Iga Swiatek has been turning heads in tennis ever since she turned pro in 2016. At just 22 years old, the Pole already has four Grand Slam titles to her name, with three of them being at the French Open. With just four Grand Slam finals appearances, she has won all four. With the prospect of an illustrious career already in sight, the four-time Grand Slam champion has not stopped influencing the sport since she started.
However, with the WTA announcing the first four qualifiers for the WTA finals at Cancun, Mexico she has broken a record. She is the youngest player to qualify for the WTA Finals for three consecutive seasons since Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki in the 2009-2011 seasons. With this record, she joins an elite list of women’s tennis players. Both Azarenka and Wozniacki have proved that they were dominators in the pace of the sport during their primes. Both players have been at the World No.1 position at some point in their career.
However, with four Grand Slam titles, Swiatek has the most number of Grand Slams among this trio. Swiatek has proved time and again that her game is at a level unlike anyone else’s. She had a disappointing fourth-round exit at the US Open 2023 against Jelena Ostapenko. Nevertheless, she has never stopped stunning the tennis world with her game.
The first four qualifiers for the WTA finals have been named
The WTA announced the first four players to qualify for the WTA Finals. Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina are the first four players to enter the prestigious year-end tournament.
Barring the other three players, Elena Rybakina will be making her debut at the tournament. However, the other three are quite familiar with the level of the season closer. Coco Gauff will be entering not only the singles category but also the doubles tournament alongside long-time doubles partner and friend Jessica Pegula.
The event will be held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 October to 5 November, marking the end of the season. While Aryna Sabalenka made it to the finals in the 2022 version of the tournament, she was ultimately defeated by Caroline Garcia.
In case you missed it:
- WATCH: Roger Federer turns coach for young Canadian players taking them by surprise ahead of the Laver Cup 2024
- Iga Swiatek comments on the downside of being a World No. 1 as she talks about constant recognition everywhere
Follow FirstSportz on WhatsApp Channel
Stay Updated!
Ramya Rangarajan
(267 Articles Published)