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Iga Swiatek & Hubert Hurkacz - Poland
2021 - The Italian Open
Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2021 - Day Nine
ROME, ITALY - MAY 16: A general view of the scoreboard after Iga Świątek of Poland wins the match 6-0 6-0 over Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during the women's final at Foro Italico on May 16, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
In her now familiar Winners Pose - WTA Premier 5 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2021 Poland's Iga Świątek celebrates with the trophy and her team after winning the final against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova - image source : REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Italian Open: Iga Swiatek double-bagels Karolina Pliskova to win title in style ahead of French Open
Polish French Open champion Iga Świątek put in a relentless display against Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Italian Open on Sunday afternoon. The 19-year-old rising star won by a 6-0 6-0 scoreline as she was able to secure an excellent piece of preparation for the defence of her 2020 title at Roland Garros.
Iga Świątek of Poland poses with the winners trophy after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-0 6-0 in the women's final at Foro Italico on May 16, 2021 in Rome - Image credit: Getty Images - image sourced from Eurosport
By Alexander Netherton | Published 16/05/2021 | Updated 16/05/2021
- Iga Świątek double-bagelled Karolina Pliskova to win the Italian Open in style on Sunday ahead of the French Open.
- The 19-year-old Polish player lost only 13 points as she swatted aside Pliskova, and achieved a top 10 ranking as a result of the win, which took just three-quarters of an hour.
- Pliskova only managed to win a paltry four points in the entire opening set, and Świątek said that she had even surprised herself with her win.
"At the beginning of this tournament I wouldn't even dream of winning. It was super tough, we had to fight a lot of stuff. Karolina obviously had a great run here and in previous years. She's showing she's a really consistent player so congrats for the week.
A tweet from the WTA Insider showing what a rare and astonishing victory this was in a 21-year span!
Pliskova, meanwhile, simply said she was aiming to come back swiftly from the disappointment. "I mean, definitely not the best day in this tournament. I think Iga was playing great tennis today and all the week. Congratulations to her and her team," she said. "You have days like this in tennis where things are not going your way. That was the day today. I still tried but it was just not working for me. I will just quickly forget about today. I had some great matches here. To reach a final is always a great week, great tournament." Source : Eurosport
A stunning week indeed - nice acknowledgement from the WTA (sourced from Reuters)
Swiatek demolishes Pliskova to claim Rome crown
Tennis - WTA Premier 5 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 16, 2021 Poland's Iga Świątek celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova - image source : REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
French Open champion Iga Świątek served a warning to her rivals ahead of the clay court Grand Slam with a 6-0 6-0 demolition of former world number one Karolina Pliskova in the Italian Open final on Sunday.
The victory in 46 minutes meant the world number 15 from Poland, who shot to fame at Roland Garros last year by beating Sofia Kenin in straight sets in the final, will enter the top 10 for the first time when the new rankings are out on Monday. Świątek's third title overall following triumphs at Roland Garros and Adelaide came on the back of one of the most dominant performances of the 19-year-old's career as she dropped only 13 points against the Czech, who was the 2019 Rome champion. "I'm really happy to win this tournament in Rome, it's been a tough week from the beginning," said Świątek, who won her quarter-final and semi-final matches in straight sets on Saturday after they were postponed due to rain. "I'm really happy I got through everything and I was really focused today, so I'm proud of myself. Now I've finally earned some tiramisu."
She served with ruthless accuracy, winning more than 93% of points on her first serve, and converted six out of eight break point opportunities to close out the win against a frustrated Pliskova, who had no answers on the day. It was also the first double bagel in the final of the Rome tournament and the most one-sided since Hungary's Andrea Temesvari beat American Bonnie Gadusek 6-1 6-0 in 1983. Source : Reuters
2021 - They're writing about them in the same column!
Awans Hurkacza i Świątek. Turnieje masters na wyciagniecie reki
Inevitably it's only a matter of time before Hurkacz and Świątek head the Masters.
5go Kwietnia 2021 | Eurosport
Cel jest jeszcze odległy, ale dzięki zwycięstwu w Miami Hubert Hurkacz jest znacznie bliżej występu w kończącym sezon turnieju ATP Finals. W rankingu, na podstawie którego wybierana jest ósemka zawodników finałowej imprezy w Turynie, Polak awansował właśnie na piąte miejsce. W podobnej rywalizacji wśród kobiet Iga Świątek jest obecnie tylko w nieco gorszej sytuacji od wrocławianina. Sport oglądaj w Eurosport Playerze
Hurkacz po niedzielnym sukcesie odniesionym w prestiżowych zawodach ATP Masters 1000 na Florydzie w zestawieniu "Race To Turin" poprawił swoje notowania o 13 lokat. 24-letni Polak w tym sezonie jak na razie ma na koncie siedem startów i zgromadził 1395 punktów. Wygrał w tym okresie dwa turnieje cyklu - w styczniu zwyciężył w Delray Beach. Żaden inny singlista nie wywalczył w tym czasie dwóch tytułów. W rankingu, na podstawie którego ustalona zostanie obsada październikowej imprezy we Włoszech, liderem jest Novak Djoković. Serb triumfował w lutym w Australian Open. "Djoko", który wziął udział w tym roku jak na razie tylko w dwóch turniejach, ma na koncie 2 140 pkt. Świątek tuż za finałową ósemką Trochę do zrobienia ma jeszcze Iga Świątek. Polka zajmuje obecnie dziewiąte miejsce w wyścigu do turnieju masters. Do szczęścia brakuje jej więc niewiele. Tenisistka z Raszyna, która w zawodach WTA 1000 w Miami, odpadła w trzeciej rundzie, w porównaniu z poprzednim notowaniem awansowała o dwie lokaty. Świątek zaliczyła dotychczas pięć startów w tym sezonie i ma 935 pkt. Na ten dorobek składają się m.in. punkty przyznane za triumf pod koniec lutego w Adelajdzie. Wspomnianej liście przewodzi Naomi Osaka, która po trzech występach zgromadziła 2400 pkt. Japonka w tym roku cieszyła się z sukcesu w wielkoszlemowych zmaganiach w Melbourne. Dokładnego terminu WTA Finals w tym sezonie jeszcze nie podano. Wiadomo tylko, że kończąca sezon impreza ma zostać rozegrana w chińskim Shenzhen.
2021 - Miami Open: Hubert Hurkacz defeats Jannik Sinner to win his maiden Masters 1000 title
Poland's Hubert Hurkacz won his maiden Miami Open title on Sunday - image sourced from Carlos Goldman/Miami Dolphins via AP
Hubert Hurkacz is the first Pole to win a men's singles Masters 1000 title; the 24-year-old beat Denis Kudla, Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and now Jannik Sinner on the way to a stunning tournament victory
Last Updated: 4th April 2021
Poland's Hubert Hurkacz made it a perfect 10-0 in Florida as he added his maiden Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open with victory over teenager Jannik Sinner to the Delray Beach Open crown he won in January. Hurkacz, the first Polish singles player to win one of the ATP's top level of events, continued his brilliant week by beating 19-year-old Italian Sinner 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. "Last year I spent here almost half a year," Hurkacz said in an on-court interview. "I was practising in the hottest weather during the spring and summer here, so I think that helped me a lot playing now in Florida, especially in these pretty tough conditions here, because it was a little bit slow here. The wind was blowing from side to side sometimes, so it's huge."
With Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all skipping the tournament, the stage was set for an unexpected champion, and so it proved. Hurkacz made the better start, winning the first three games, but Sinner responded with a run of three games of his own to draw level. The prodigiously talented teenager was the youngest Masters finalist since Rafael Nadal and, after withstanding more pressure from Hurkacz, he broke the Pole's serve at 5-5. He was unable to serve out the set, though, and it was Hurkacz who stepped up to take it on a tie-break.
The Pole was flawless at the start of the second set, reeling off four games in a row, but he became a little tight in sight of the finish line and Sinner clawed his way back to 3-4.
Hubi with back-to-back Florida titles
By defeating Jannik Sinner at the Miami Open Hubert Hurkacz at No 37 becomes the lowest ranked player to win an ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournament since Tomas Berdych at the 2005 Paris Masters. The teenager was looking weary, though, and Hurkacz managed to keep his nerves at bay to make it across the finish line. "The balls felt slow when I went to serve," Hurkacz said of the final game. "Obviously a tough point. You really want to get a couple of free points and Jannik's an amazing returner. It was a tough game."
Hurkacz will climb from 37 in the world rankings to a career-high of 16 on Monday, while Sinner will move up nine spots to No 22.
"Warto mieć marzenia". Świątek inspiracja dla Hurkacza
'It's worth dreaming.' Świątek Hurkacz's inspiration
5go Kwietnia 2021
- To dla mnie coś naprawdę wyjątkowego. Przez cały turniej grałem solidnie. Przejście każdej kolejnej rundy sprawiało, że czułem się pewniej, każde zwycięstwo jeszcze bardziej mnie motywowało - mówi Hubert Hurkacz, który wygrał wielki turniej Miami Open. 24-letni zawodnik udzielił wywiadu Polskiej Agencji Prasowej. W niedzielę przeszedł do historii polskiego, ale i światowego tenisa. Wygrał trzeci turniej w karierze, bez dwóch zdań najważniejszy. Po raz pierwszy w jednej imprezie odprawił z kwitkiem dwóch tenisistów z top 10. W decydującym meczu pokonał Jannika Sinnera 7:6 (7-4), 6:4 i został pierwszym polskim triumfatorem turnieju rangi ATP Masters 1000. W poniedziałek awansował na 16. miejsce w rankingu. - Ta wygrana utwierdza mnie w przekonaniu, że mogę osiągnąć jeszcze więcej - przekonuje.
Nie mogło być lepszego miejsca na tak wartościowy triumf. Na Florydzie Hurkacz ma bazę treningową, na dodatek jego trener Craig Boynton jest Amerykaninem. - Jego pierwsze słowa były takie, że wiszę mu teraz butelkę dobrego wina. Cieszył się i gratulował tego, co razem osiągnęliśmy. Pracowaliśmy na ten sukces bardzo ciężko również i tu, na Florydzie, w ubiegłych latach, dlatego niesamowicie się cieszę, że to wszystko wydarzyło się właśnie w tym miejscu - podkreśla najlepszy polski tenisista i zarazem jeden z dwudziestu najlepszych na świecie. Na Florydzie jak w domu To właśnie na Florydzie Hurkacza zastał pierwszy lockdown - wiosną zeszłego roku. - Są tu świetne warunki do rozwoju i do tego, aby starać się być lepszym z dnia na dzień. Wcześniej spędziłem tutaj prawie pół roku na przełomie wiosny i lata 2020. Trenowałem po kilka godzin dziennie w bardzo ciepłej aurze, przy temperaturze dochodzącej do 39 stopni. To sprawiło, że jestem dziś w lepszej formie fizycznej oraz że szybciej się adaptuję do tego typu warunków - opowiada Hurkacz. W Miami zwyciężali już Agnieszka Radwańska czy Łukasz Kubot (on w deblu), ale największą inspiracją dla Hurkacza była Iga Świątek, która w zeszłym sezonie wygrała wielkoszlemowy Roland Garros. - Triumf Igi czy mój z Miami można spróbować przekuć w coś pozytywnego w przyszłości. Mnie zainspirowały osiągnięcia Igi i teraz ja też pokazuję, że warto mieć marzenia - twierdzi Hurkacz. Source : Eurosport
2021 - Iga Triumphs in the Adelaide International & receives innovative trophy!
Adelaide February 27th, 2021 | By WTA Staff
Swiatek soars to Adelaide title with victory over Bencic
Iga Świątek captured the second title of her career at the Adelaide International with a dominant straight-sets win over Belinda Bencic.
Iga with the treasured trophy - image courtesy and © of Getty Images
Roland Garros champion Iga Świątek is back in the winner's circle, capturing her second career title at the Adelaide International with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 defeat of No.2 seed Belinda Bencic in just 62 minutes. Świątek was near-flawless throughout, striking 22 winners and committing a meagre six unforced errors - three in each set. The Pole conceded only six points behind her delivery winning a career best 90.9% of her first serve points (20 out of 22), and was not taken to deuce in any of her own service games. The result caps a stellar week for Świątek, who did not drop a set on the way to the trophy - the first WTA title run without the loss of a set since her own Roland Garros route last October. There, the 19-year-old conceded 28 games in seven matches (four per match); this week, she lost 22 games in five matches (4.4 per match). As a result, Świątek will rise to a new career high of World No.15 on Monday. "For sure, there is something that clicks," mused Świątek on the scale of her dominance during her title runs. "Not only in my head but also tennis-wise. I feel pretty good on court. I feel like sometimes I have weeks when everything clicks, and that's just the effect of the work we're doing." Świątek has repeatedly stated this year that she is aiming to find consistency on tour - but weeks where she is "in the flow" help with that. "It's good for me because I can see that I can play good tennis for the whole week," she said. "It wasn't like one time during the French Open. It gives me more confidence that I'm more developed [as a] player and I can play good more often. It just gives me motivation. "Our goal right now is to have that more often, because I know I can play great tennis. It's just all about planning, aiming for the specific tournament to have the best shape possible."
The serve would be the most glaring difference in the first meeting between the two players. Bencic may have out-aced Świątek five to four, but the Swiss player paid heavily for eight double faults. Four of those came in the sixth game as Bencic handed the first break of the match over to Świątek on a platter - a setback from which she would not recover. Świątek's own serve had been clicking from the start, and the No.5 seed went from strength to strength in every other area as the final progressed. Her heavy forehand did repeated damage as a first strike, but Świątek also excelled in longer exchanges, out-manoeuvring Bencic with canny wrong-footing winners and at one point conjuring up a marvellous defensive lob. Bencic, one of the most tactically astute players on tour, admitted afterwards that she had been at a loss. "I struggled a lot today with how different she played," said the Swiss player, whose record in finals is now 4-7. "I just couldn't figure out her patterns or her serve or anything at all. "It's the unpredictable-ness," she continued. "I think she plays everything just little bit different than I'm expecting. So not the usual patterns which you would expect. I think I'm a pretty good anticipator. But today it was a little bit off - of course, thanks to her game. "Then I think she plays with much more spin and heaviness. Also the balls you think you can reach are just jumping over you. It makes it harder to make a defense, to counterpunch." Bencic is already planning ahead to her next encounter with Świątek, though. "I'm thinking about it," she said. "I would definitely start differently. I'm not sure in which direction yet, but something I would change. I would not go to the match [with] the same tactics. I'm not sure which other tactics to use, but for sure I would come up with something when I would be able to go on the court again. Świątek has needed only three tournaments to collect her first trophy following her maiden Grand Slam crown. Only seven active first-time major champions needed fewer, and only four of those did it at 500/Premier/Tier II level or higher: Venus Williams (one, Stanford 2000), Victoria Azarenka (one, Doha 2012), Simona Halep (two, Montréal 2018) and Ashleigh Barty (one, Birmingham 2019). Świątek now owns a 9-1 record in professional finals, having been 7-0 at ITF level prior to her WTA Tour breakthrough. Her sole loss came to Polona Hercog at Lugano 2019.
The now familiar congratulatory 'team' photo - 2021 Adelaide champion Iga Świątek celebrates with her team. - Photo courtesy & © by Tennis Australia/David Mariuz
Sublime Swiatek wins Adelaide International
27th February 2021, by Matt Trollope
Iga Świątek sitting pretty after her run to and triumph in the women's singles final in Adelaide - image courtesy & © of the Adelaide International Tennis Tournament
Iga Świątek dropped just four games in dismissing Belinda Bencic in the final of the Adelaide International on Saturday night. The Polish teenager beat the second seed 6-2 6-2 to capture her second tour-level title, and first on hard courts. And just like she did when storming to the title at Roland Garros last year, she won the tournament in Adelaide this week without losing a single set.
"I would say so that this tournament is kind of the high of the year. The season just started, so I didn't have many opportunities. For sure, I felt really confident here and really solid on court," Świątek said. "It's good for me because I can see that I can play good tennis for the whole week. It wasn't like one time during the French Open. It gives me more confidence that I'm, like, more developed player and I can play good more often. I'm really happy about that. "It just gives me motivation. It's good." Świątek belted 22 winners against just six unforced errors in a display of power, relentlessness and athleticism that thoroughly overwhelmed Bencic. The Swiss star struggled on serve, committing eight double faults in a contest that spanned just 62 minutes. After slotting an ace out wide to hold at love for a 2-1 first-set lead, Świątek was soon ahead 5-2, and then hammered three forehand winners to arrive at set point in the eighth game. Bencic erased that opportunity with an ace, and a competitive game unfolded featuring five deuces. Bencic's sixth double-fault saw her lose a game point, and two points later, Świątek lashed a forehand with heavy topspin for a return winner to take the opening set. At 1-1, 0-15, Świątek blew Bencic away when she began a run of 12 consecutive points. She played an off-backhand winner to lead 0-40 in the fourth game, and broke for a 3-1 lead when Bencic double-faulted again. An ace, followed by an unreturnable serve, in the following game saw the 19-year-old hold at love and extend her lead to 4-1. Świątek was in full flight in the final game, cranking a backhand winner to reach 15-30 followed by a forehand winner for 15-40, and a pair of championship points.
Channel Nine TV commentators Jelena Dokic and Mark Petchey were in awe of the level Świątek was producing. "The athleticism is insane!" Dokic exclaimed, before Petchey added: "I love watching her move." Two points later, Bencic fired a forehand long, and Świątek was the champion.
"For sure there is something that clicks," Świątek said when asked what it felt like to win another title without dropping a set. "Not only in my head but also, like, physically, tennis-wise. I feel pretty good on court. That's actually, I don't know, maybe third time that I have this kind of flow during the whole week or two weeks at French Open. "Our goal right now, I guess, is to have that more often because I know I can play great tennis. "I feel like sometimes I have weeks when everything clicks, and that's just the effect of the work we're doing. It's impossible to play at the same level for the whole season. "I'm really happy I have weeks like that and I can win tournaments."
Unique Trophy Designs by Patrick Ikaringanyi Ferguson
Image courtesy & © of i.prcdn.co with thanks
Stunning tennis trophies worth fighting for
The Advertiser | PressReader 18th January 2020 RICHARD EVANS
Winning a final at today's Adelaide International is about far more than just the money.
That's the word from tournament director Alistair MacDonald, who commissioned one of South Australia's leading indigenous woodcarvers to come up with a unique trophy for each event winner. Woodville's Patrick Ikaringanyi Ferguson, the winner of the 2017 Don Dunstan Foundation emerging artist prize, has crafted separate trophies, and replicas to take home, for the winners of the men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles events. Each trophy tells its own story, Mr Ferguson said. A woodcarver and artist for about 15 years, he said tennis was not something that had featured in his professional life.
"I went out of my comfort zone," he said. "I wanted to retain my culture and tell a story." Mr MacDonald said that with 120 players arriving from all over the world, telling a South Australian story was imperative. World No.1 Ash Barty, who herself has an indigenous background, is deeply impressed with the trophies. "It's incredible artwork… It's amazing, particularly the women's ones," the Queenslander said. "I had a peek at it a few days ago, as well. It's great for the tournament to have that initiative, to bring some indigenous culture in."
Iga Świątek with her Adelaide International trophy - image courtesy & © of Adelaide International
2020 - Triumphant Poles
Iga and Robert Lewandowski with their respective awards - image sourced from Iga's Fb page
In her own words : 'I had an emotional evening yesterday and I will admit that at some point I was more stressed than before the Szlem finale (Grand Slam Final). Not because of my result but my speech so I hope it went well haha. I would like to thank you again for your votes, because the truth is that if you - the fans didn't take my result so intensively and above all positively, I don't know if I would have found myself at the Sports Champions Gala. This statue means a lot to me because it shows that you are there for me, appreciate me and support me and that's a huge motivation for me. All I regret is that I don't have a picture with Beata Kozidrak.
Yesterday was a night full of emotions and excitement. I was chosen 2nd sportsmen of the year in Poland (right after @_rl9 Robert Lewandowski) by fans' votes. I want to thank you all for supporting me and giving me motivation to work harder.'
2020 - Year End voted Runner-Up by prestigious Polish Sports Association PKOI
9th January 2021
'Iga Świątek, wraz ze swoim trenerem, została wyróżniona przez Kapitułę Wielkiej Honorowej Nagrody Sportowej PKOl im. Piotra Nurowskiego. Obok Igi, wyróżnienie dostał Robert Lewandowski.' - Image and strapline sourced from 'Z kortu - informacje tenisowe' Fb page
In her own words from her Fb page Iga says : 'Serdecznie dziękuję Kapitule Wielkiej Honorowej Nagrody Sportowej PKOl im. Piotra Nurowskiego za wyróżnienie. Bardzo doceniam to, że mogłam znaleźć się w tym miejscu obok Roberta Lewandowskiego i mojego osobistego trenera.'
'Thank you very much to the Chapter of the Grand Honorary Sport Award PKO im. Piotr Nurowski for the honor. I really appreciate being here beside Robert Lewandowski and my personal trainer.'
'Iga Świątek znalazła się na drugim miejscu, za Robertem Lewandowskim, w kategorii #SportowiecRoku! Brawo!' - Image and strapline sourced from 'Z kortu - informacje tenisowe' Fb page
2020 - Voted AIPS Top European Sportswoman of the Year
Iga Swiatek i Robert Lewandowski najlepszymi sportowcami Europy 2020
Opracownie: Katarzyna Wójcik | Sobota, 2 stycznia 2021 (19:41)
Iga Świątek, triumfatorka tenisowego turnieju wielkoszlemowego French Open oraz najlepszy piłkarz świata FIFA, kapitan reprezentacji Polski i napastnik Bayernu Monachium Robert Lewandowski zostali zwycięzcami 38. plebiscytu AIPS Europe na najlepszych sportowców Europy w 2020 roku W głosowaniu uczestniczyły 43 narodowe kluby zrzeszające dziennikarzy prasy, radia, telewizji, mediów elektronicznych i fotoreporterów tej największej sekcji kontynentalnej Światowego Stowarzyszenia Prasy Sportowej AIPS Europe, powstałej w 1977 roku.
To szósty przypadek w sięgającej 1983 roku historii tego prestiżowego plebiscytu, aby wygrali go reprezentanci jednego kraju i pierwszy kiedy triumfatorami są Polacy. Serdecznie gratuluję sportowcom i dziennikarzom z Polski, że to ich pupile wyprzedzili innych równie słynnych rywali w wyścigu do pierwszego miejsca - powiedział prezydent AIPS Europe Maltańczyk Charles Camenzuli. Lewandowski zdystansował mistrza świata Formuły 1 Brytyjczyka Lewisa Hamiltona oraz ubiegłorocznego triumfatora plebiscytu hiszpańskiego tenisistę Rafaela Nadala. Drugie miejsce za Świątek przypadło włoskiej alpejce Federice Brignone, a trzecie grającej w piłkarskiej reprezentacji kraju i Arsenal WFC Holenderce Vivianne Miedemie. Plebiscyt mężczyzn nosi od 2003 roku imię byłego prezydenta UEPS Brytyjczyka Franka Taylora, natomiast kobiet - zasłużonego działacza tej organizacji Słoweńca Evgena Berganta.
Image source as used on rmf24.pl - Iga Świątek i Robert Lewandowski /IAN LANGSDON, Marco Donato /PAP/EPA
MALTA, January 2, 2021 - For the first time in his career, Bayern Munich's leading figure for 2020, ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI - was chosen as the European Sportsman of the Year by journalists from 43 AIPS Europe national associations.
Iga Świątek, the Polish tennis player and winner of the 2020 French Open, also for the first time in her career was chosen as the 2020 European Sportswoman of the Year.
Robert Lewandowski was followed by F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and last year's winner Rafael Nadal. Iga Świątek was followed by Italian Alpine skier Federica Brignone and Arsenal WFC and Netherlands football player Vivianne Miedema.
It was the 38th annual poll conducted by AIPS Europe through the worldwide poll held by AIPS. AIPS Europe, established in 1977 at the AIPS Congress in Milano Marittima, is the biggest continental section of AIPS. Since 2003, the annual poll was named the Frank Taylor Trophy in honor of the former president of both AIPS and UEPS. Eventually the European Sportswoman award was named after former leading UEPS official Evgen Bergant. Source : aipsmedia.com
EUROPEAN SPORTSMEN and SPORTSWOMEN of the YEAR (HISTORICAL ROLL-CALL) : MEN - Frank Taylor Trophy - WOMEN : Evgen Bergant Trophy
2020 Robert Lewandowski (Poland), football |
2020 Iga Świątek (Poland) Tennis |
2020 - Forbes Women Polska - Top 100
Voted into Forbes 2020 Women Polska Top 100 as 'The tennis Player who gave Poland their first singles Grand Slam title by winning the French Open without dropping a set. Experts write that she achieved this through a mix of a unique talent, hard work, self-belief and humility.' - image sourced from Eurosport
Image sourced from Iga's Twitter page
Swiatek wyrózniona przez prestizowy magazyn.
"Niezwykłe połączenie" 11-go grudnia 2020
"Dziękuję za wyróżnienie" - napisała w mediach społecznościowych Iga Świątek. Najlepsza obecnie polska tenisistka znalazła się na liście stu kobiet roku w magazynie "Forbes".
Dla triumfatorki tegorocznego Rolanda Garrosa to kolejne wyróżnienie w grudniu. Przed kilkoma dniami 19-latka została wybrana w plebiscycie WTA tenisistką, która zrobiła największy postęp w 2020 roku. Otrzymała tytuł "WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year". Teraz może pochwalić się kolejną nagrodą. "Talent, pracowitość, wiara, skromność" "Tenisitka, która dała Polsce pierwszy tytuł wielkoszlemowy. Przez French Open przeszła bez utraty seta. Eksperci opisują ją jako niezwykłe połączenie talentu, pracowitości, wiary we własny potencjał i skromności" - napisano w uzasadnieniu magazynu "Forbes". Pochodząca z Raszyna tenisistka dokonała w tym roku historycznego wyczynu. Została najmłodszą kobietą od czasu Moniki Seles, która wygrała turniej na kortach Rolanda Garrosa. W 2019 roku trafiła do Top 50, a po tegorocznym turnieju w Paryżu weszła do pierwszej dwudziestki i kończy sezon na 17. miejscu. Polska tenisistka szybko doceniła nagrodę. "Dziękuję za wyróżnienie! Lista stu Kobiet Roku 2020 Forbes Women. To bardzo, bardzo miłe!" - napisała w mediach społecznościowych.
Na liście wyróżnionych przez magazyn oprócz Świątek znalazły się także dwie inne sportsmenki. Brytyjka Jamie Chadwick - najszybsza kobieta w zawodach Formuły W oraz Brazylijka Maya Gabeira, surferka i zdobywczyni największej w tym sezonie fali (ponad 22-metrowej) wśród obu płci. Source : Eurosport
Talent, Diligence and Modesty: Iga Swiatek Earns Another Top Honor
- Reigning French Open women's singles champion Iga Świątek has been named as one of Poland's hundred Women of the Year.
The honor comes as a deserving token of acknowledgement and affirmation of the Pole's stupendous success story this year.
- Iga Świątek among Forbes' 100 Women of the Year in Poland
- Largely unheralded before she came to the French Open, Świątek displayed skill, belief and maturity far beyond her age to win her maiden Grand Slam title.
- Świątek scripted a remarkable success story at Roland-Garros
What stood out in her glory run at Roland-Garros was that she didn't drop a single set on the way to landing the title. And, a statement released by Forbes Women Polska seemed to reaffirm the qualities that drove the 19-year-old to her first Major title. Scripting many firsts, the Pole became the youngest women's champion at Roland-Garros since Monica Seles and was also the first from her country to land a Grand Slam title. The statement, which Świątek shared on Twitter, read, "The tennis player, who gave Poland the first Grand Slam title, went through the French Open without losing a set." "Experts describe it as an extraordinary combination of talent, diligence, faith in one's own potential and modesty," it said.
Swiatek thanks Forbes for honor
Świątek also posted a message thanking Forbes Poland for the honor. "Thank you Forbes Women Polska for this honor. List of 100 Women of the Year in Poland," she said. Showing no nerves on the biggest stage in women's tennis, Świątek got the better of the likes of two-time Grand Slam winning Romanian Simona Halep and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard** on her way to the final. In the final she ran into this year's Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, but she cared little about her opponent's reputation as she thumped the American in straight sets to lift the title. As she heads to a new season on the WTA Tour, Świątek will have an eye on more titles. She finished the 2020 season ranked 17th. Source : essentiallysports
** I watched this match and the above review was obviously written in 'hindsight' - Iga's court appearance and subsequent victory over the Canadian Bouchard was tucked away on an outside court without any mainstream transmission. Bouchard, has of course lost much of her novelty and sparkle, which are now replaced with court tantrums, since her own greatly successful year when she rampaged through to the later stages of several Grand Slams and Iga would not have rated much more interest on French TV ..... not at that stage of proceedings anyway!
She won her maiden Grand Slam without dropping a set. Find out more about the Polish teen who's just claimed her first Major and broken into the world's top 20.
Written by Cameron Edwards | Published on 08.10.2020
Records tumbled following Iga Świątek's incredible straight sets victory in Paris. Not only was she the lowest-ranked woman to reach the final since rankings began, she also became the first Polish tennis player to ever win a Grand Slam singles title.
Iga Świątek Service Mostion - image sourced from and © of Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool
1. She brings a psychologist to tournaments :
A permanent member of Iga Świątek's coaching team is sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, who goes to Świątek's tournaments alongside coach Piotr Sierzputowski. The presence of a psychologist is not coincidental – when she was young, Świątek often struggled with her emotions on court, sometimes exploding after a bad point and thus losing control over the match. "Daria helps me a great deal," Świątek explains. "Prior to the match against Simona Halep in Paris, she made sure I had a positive attitude towards the match. Thanks to that, I was able to take the initiative," she continued, after upsetting the top-seeded Halep in Paris. It was Daria who also once gave her a ukulele – the musical instrument is supposed to help ensure better control over her emotions.
2. She's a crazy cat lady :
Świątek is a huge cat lover and while for now there's only been one at her house – her little black cat, Grappa, but, "one day, I'll want to have more," she says. Where did the name Grappa come from? "Well, it's easy to figure out," Świątek reveals with a smile. We suspect there may have been some home tasting after an Italian holiday.
3. She started off like Aga Radwańska :
Their seventh appearance at a major and their first quarter final – [former world number two] Agnieszka Radwańska and Iga Światek's Grand Slam careers started off exactly the same. Radwańska made her Slam debut in 2006 at Wimbledon and advanced to her first quarter final at the Australian Open in 2008 at her seventh attempt. Światek made her debut in Australia in 2019 and made it to her first quarter final in Paris in 2020 – also on her seventh Grand Slam appearance. Both of them were still teenagers, even though Radwańska was a little younger – she was 18 years and 324 days old, while Światek was 19 years and 126 days.
4. She listens to rock music :
Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pink Floyd, Santana, Coldplay, AC/DC – it's not an oldschool radio 'hit list', but Świątek's own playlist! How come she's so fascinated with rock music from the past? "When I was going to tournaments, that's the music my coaches listened to," she explains. "And it just stayed with me, I grew fond of it. I guess my fascination with older music is a result of the fact that music had more value to it in the past, it had a greater spirit, triggered emotions and was less synthetic," she adds.
5. Her dad was an Olympian :
Świątek comes from a sporting family – her dad, Tomasz, was an excellent oarsman, who represented Poland at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 in the men's quadruple sculls (seventh place) and at the World Championships (fifth place, among other achievements). Her older sister, Aga, also played tennis for a while, but in the end she chose a career outside of the world of sport. "I learnt from my mistakes when it comes to my daughters' tennis careers," Tomasz says. "Whatever didn't work with the older one, hopefully is going to work out with the younger one," he jokes.
6. She played for Legia Warsaw :
If you've ever seen Iga Świątek at a Legia Warsaw football match, it wouldn't be a coincidence. Świątek spent a few years representing the club at tennis, training on its courts and posing for photos with the characteristic 'L'.
7. She's a Wimbledon winner :
Świątek was a very successful junior. Her greatest achievement was a Wimbledon junior singles title in 2018 when she defeated Switzerland's Leoni Küng 6-4, 6-2 in the final and became the fourth Pole to land a junior title at the All England Club, after Aleksandra Olsza and Aga and Urszula Radwańska. She also won a junior Grand Slam doubles title on the clay courts of Roland Garros in 2018, together with American Caty McNally, after making the 2017 Australian Open doubles final with Maja Chwalińska.
8. She loves Mad Men :
When asked about her favourite series, Świątek says Mad Men without a single second of hesitation. "The series has a cool retro atmosphere, as it takes place in the '60s, but at the same time it depicts the beginnings of advertising in the US in an engaging way," she explains. "It's important to me that I can learn something interesting from a series and this one shows many mechanisms and ideas, which are obvious for us, but were something brand new at that time."
9. She's a fan of Rafael Nadal :
Świątek has been on Rafa's team for a long time and keeps rooting for the King of Clay. Why? "Because I admire him as an athlete and his fighting spirit, he's a model sportsman," she reveals. "Rafa always fights till the very end, he's a tennis warrior. Moreover, I admire his playing style with high top-spins, I also like to play that way. His left-handed forehand is an amazing shot that's earned him many tournament wins. I like and respect Roger Federer, too. It's hard not to consider him a legend of our sport, he's in a tennis class of his own, but when it comes to style and personality, I'm more into Rafa, because I love his energy. Sorry!"
10. She likes historical books :
Świątek really enjoyed Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones. She also reads historical novels by Ken Follett, but… "These are usually pretty thick volumes, so sometimes I feel like I need something lighter," she says. "Then I choose, for example, Dan Brown or a crime novel."
At the age of 19 she's already one of the world's top-35 ranked players - image sourced from and © of Kin Marcin/Red Bull Content Pool - watch the video here
2020 - WTA Year End Awards
Sofia Kenin, Iga Świątek, Nadia Podoroska, Victoria Azarenka, Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic have been recognized by the international media, while Marie Bouzkova and the WTA Players' Council receive honors by their peers.
Image © Getty Images sourced from tennis.com
Images sourced from Iga Świątek's Twitter feed
Image and information sourced from and © of WTA
WTA Most Improved Player of the Year: Iga Swiatek (POL)
Player who finished inside the Top 100 and showed significant improvement throughout the 2020 season
- Captured her maiden Tour-level title at Roland Garros, defeating 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova, 2018 champion Halep and 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin along the way and didn't drop a set throughout the fortnight
- Became the first Polish player – man or woman – to win a Grand Slam singles title
- At 19-years-old, became the youngest woman since Monica Seles to win Roland Garros
- Opened her 2020 season by advancing to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open
- Having cracked the Top 50 in 2019, broke into the Top 20 following her run in Paris this year and finishes the season at a career best of No.17
Warto było poczekać. Swiatek pochwaliła sie nagroda za 2020 rok
It was worth the wait! Swiatek takes delight in her 2020 prize
6go Kwietnia 2021 | Eurosport
Kolekcja trofeów Igi Świątek znów się powiększyła. W Miami polska tenisistka odebrała nagrodę WTA Most Improved Player dla zawodniczki, która w 2020 roku zanotowała największy postęp. Zdobyczą pochwaliła się w mediach społecznościowych. Miniony rok był dla świata tenisa trudny, czemu winna jest naturalnie pandemia COVID-19. Mnóstwo imprez zostało odwołanych, a inne - jak Roland Garros - odłożono. I właśnie jesienna rywalizacja w Paryżu okazała się tak szczęśliwa dla Świątek. Na nagrodę zapracowała w Paryżu.
Nastolatka pojechała do Francji może nie jako zawodniczka anonimowa, ale do statusu gwiazdy było jej daleko. W rankingu WTA znajdowała się jeszcze poza czołową 50. Po raz pierwszy rzuciła tenisowy świat na kolana, kiedy w czwartej rundzie zdemolowała Simonę Halep. A później było już tylko lepiej. Po końcowy triumf, pierwszy w Wielkim Szlemie, sięgnęła bez straty choćby jednego seta. Z miejsca stała się jedną z największych postaci kobiecego touru. Pojawiły się liczne propozycje, gigantyczny skok w rankingu i niezliczone nagrody. Jedną z nich była przyznana pod koniec roku WTA Most Improved Player. Wobec wciąż panującej pandemii Świątek odebrała ją dopiero kilka dni temu, w trakcie pobytu w Miami, gdzie wzięła udział w turnieju WTA 1000. "Choć laureatów ogłoszono już jakiś czas temu, z powodu pandemii dopiero w Miami dostałam to piękne frisbee (trofeum oczywiście). Dziękuję za wyróżnienie WTA!" – napisała, publikując zdjęcie z efektowną nagrodą.
Iga re-writes (tennis) history!
Iga Świątek didn't just win her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year — she rewrote history, becoming the first Polish player ever, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title. And at No. 54, she became the lowest-ranked woman to win there in the Open Era. She rose to No. 17 afterwards. This week, Świątek was named the WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year—and if the history of the award is anything to go by, that No. 17 next to her name might not be there for too much longer.
Of the 41 previous winners of the WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year award, 39 would reach the Top 10 at some point in their career. The only two exceptions have been 1982 recipient Sabina Simmonds and 2009 winner Yanina Wickmayer (who's expecting her first child but is still active). Additionally, 32 of the previous 41 recipients of the award reached the Top 5.
And to go even further, 11 of the previous 41 recipients of the award would go on to reach No. 1 in the world: Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Simona Halep. After lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in October, Świątek — who doesn't turn 20 until the end of May next year — made it clear she's only getting started in terms of reaching her potential.
"I really feel like I can progress in most things because I'm only 19," she said. "I know my game isn't developed perfectly. Also, the biggest change for me is going to be getting more consistent. I think that's what women's tennis is struggling with — that's why we have so many new Grand Slam winners, because we are not as consistent as Rafa, Roger and Novak. That's why my goal is consistency." If Świątek can continue to play like she did in Paris consistently, it shouldn't be long before she breaks the Top 10 — she lost just 28 games in seven matches on the terre battue, including a 6-1, 6-2 fourth-round win over Halep and a 6-4, 6-1 win over Sofia Kenin, which were also her first two Top 10 wins. Świątek is also the 10th player whose improvement was so swift that she received the WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year award the same year as winning her first Grand Slam title. And of the previous nine players who achieved that feat, six of them went on to become multiple major winners.
Players to win WTA's Most Improved Player the same year as winning their first major:
1978: Virginia Ruzici (won only major at 1978 Roland Garros)
1980: Hana Mandlikova (won first major at 1980 Australian Open, finished with four majors)
1989: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (won first major at 1989 Roland Garros, finished with four majors)
1990: Monica Seles (won first major at 1990 Roland Garros, finished with nine majors)
1999: Serena Williams (won first major at 1999 US Open, currently has 23 majors)
2004: Maria Sharapova (won first major at 2004 Wimbledon, finished with five majors)
2010: Francesca Schiavone (won only major at 2010 Roland Garros)
2011: Petra Kvitova (won first major at 2011 Wimbledon, currently has two majors)
2017: Jelena Ostapenko (won first major at 2017 Roland Garros, currently her only major)
2020: Iga Świątek (won first major at 2020 Roland Garros…?)
Source : Tennis.com
2020 - Biography
The Polish tennis player who's living her sporting dream.
Iga reflecting on her success - image sourced from and © of Markus Berger/Red Bull Content Pool
Iga Świątek is currently the best Polish tennis player of her generation and she comes from a sporting family. Her father Tomasz was a rower who represented Poland at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. As a junior, Iga was very successful, both in Poland and abroad, including triumphing alongside Maja Chwalińska in the European Championships of 2015 and 2016. From the beginning, Iga utilised an offensive style of play, with a strong serve, which was a departure from the more defensive, tactical style used successfully by many Polish players of recent times (most notably Aga Radwańska).
Iga's biggest success in juniors was winning the Wimbledon title in 2018, beating Leoni Küng in the final, and in so doing she became the fourth Polish woman to win Wimbledon juniors, after Aleksandra Olsza and the Radwańska sisters, Agnieszka and Urszula. She also won the French Open junior doubles title with Caty McNally on the clay of Roland Garros in 2018 and made the final of the Australian Open junior doubles with Maja Chwalińska in 2017. Due to WTA restrictions on the number of tournaments that under-18s can participate in, Iga's career really accelerated only in 2018, after her success at Wimbledon. Iga then moved up to the senior ranks and her first successes at that level came when she made the ITF semi-final in Prague and then won ITF titles in Hungary and Switzerland. By the end of 2018 Iga was already closing in on the world's top-300. In 2019, 18-year-old Iga played her first full season at main level, participating in all the biggest and most prestigious tournaments, including Grand Slams and Indian Wells and Miami at Premier level.
Her debut year on the Grand Slam stage was memorable, with the highlight being the French Open at Roland Garros, where Iga was eliminated only in the last-16 by defending champion Simona Halep. She didn't have long to wait to taste more Grand Slam success, making the last 16 once more at the 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne. Away from the majors, Iga also qualified in big tournaments, producing notable wins over the likes of former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Olympic champion Monica Puig. In the spring of 2019 in Lugano, Switzerland, she reached her first WTA final, losing out to the much more experienced Slovenian, Polona Hercog, with that week's work elevating Iga inside the world's top 100 for the first time. After that great Roland Garros and a solid summer in the US and Canada, Iga finished the season at the US Open, reaching a career ranking of 49. That ranking would surely have been improved upon, but she preferred not to risk going to Asia due to an injured leg, instead ending her season early. The following year, it was her return to the French Open in 2020 that really announced her arrival among the tennis elite. The 19-year-old didn't drop a single set, losing only 28 games in a stunning run to the tournament victory. Not only was it the first Grand Slam singles title for Iga, but the first for any Polish tennis player.
Away from the court, Iga is a big fan of rock music, the TV series Mad Men and the books of Ken Follett. She also loves her food, with Italian tiramisu among her favourite dishes, along with the less spicy versions of Indian food. Source : Red Bull
2020 - End of Year Review (Daily Mail)
Novak Djokovic hit several wrong headlines, Iga Swiatek became a star and we could be nearing the end for Serena Williams and Roger Federer - MIKE DICKSON's review of the tennis year
- An unprecedented year in tennis came to an end at Sunday's ATP Tour Finals
- The year has seen line judge controversies, Covid-19 drama and big newcomers
- Could 2021 be the year Roger Federer and Serena Williams wave goodbye?
- Sportsmail's Mike Dickson runs through the past year in the world of tennis
By Mike Dickson for the Daily Mail | Published: 22nd November 2020 | Updated: 22nd November 2020
Iga Świątek was one of the exciting newcomers in 2020 tennis and she won the French Open - strapline as seen on the Daily Mail website and image © of Reuters
An unprecedented tennis year wound to its conclusion on Sunday, having salvaged a season in the face of enormous logistical difficulties that were a combination of the Covid crisis and its international nature. Sportsmail's tennis correspondent Mike Dickson looks at some of the notable personalities, events and quirks that shaped a year which, hopefully, we will not see the like of again…. On May 1, tennis became the first of any professional sport to be played in western Europe for 37 days when Germany-based Australian promoter Rodney Rapson managed to put on an eight-man exhibition in the town of Hohr Grenzhausen, featuring the likes of Dustin Brown. Jamie Murray showed his entrepreneurial skills when he was the driving force behind the Battle of the Brits events, which formed the centrepiece of a makeshift UK summer.
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE
As with plenty of what he does (such as his sometimes overlooked charitable deeds) there may have been good intentions behind Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour. But in ignoring Covid commonsense by trying to defy the virus in the execution of his Balkan series it was never going to end well for the 33 year-old Serb. Even before that he had alienated many with his views on such matters as purifying water by the power of the mind, and on vaccines. Stand by for the latter to be the hot potato of 2021.
FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME
Laura Clark arrived at the US Open as an unknown line judge, and after being in the wrong place at the wrong time found herself at the centre of an international sporting incident when Djokovic accidentally struck her with a ball swiped away in anger. The online abuse she received following his default was inexcusable. It remains to be seen if missing out on the title will have historical consequences in the race for the most Grand Slam titles.
ABSENT FRIENDS
Thanks to ranking points being frozen for two years Ash Barty ends 2020 as the world number one, despite having played only 14 matches and not turned up to defend her French Open title. Bianca Andreescu, 2019 US Open winner, did not play at all but remains world number seven. Nick Kyrgios managed only nine matches, but made his presence felt by his pontificating on social media, taking fire at a range of targets.
MOST WELCOME NEWCOMERS
Even a truncated season provided an infusion of star quality. The most obvious riser is Poland's Iga Świątek, who swept the French Open in magisterial fashion and will surely win more. Italian teenager Jannik Sinner, from the Tyrolean mountains, is a former downhill racer for whom the only way is up. He won a first ATP trophy and is destined to soar from his year-end resting place of 37.
'Most welcome newcomer' winner of the French Open Grand Slam - Iga Świątek
BRITS OF THE YEAR
A near dead heat between Dan Evans and Joe Salisbury. Evans continually punched above his height in taking down eight top 20 players and establishing himself as GB number one. Doubles is not always easy to place in the game's ecosystem but there was excellence from Salisbury, who won the Australian Open and just missed out on the number one ranking with Rajeev Ram.
THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
Strange to say, but the Covid crisis has, in some ways, been a boon to tennis. Its safe nature and early opening meant that the virus succeeded where countless LTA initiatives and the power of Wimbledon have failed, in providing a huge boost to grass roots participation. Echoing a similar situation in golf, public courts were never fuller than this summer while many clubs suddenly found membership lists going from sagging to saturated.
BEST MATCHES
Dominic Thiem was a common factor in several, with perhaps his five set French Open quarter final loss to Diego Schwartzman the pick. The narrow loss of Serena Williams to Victoria Azarenka in the US Open semis may have been the pick among the women.
UNLIKELY HEROES
At a time when quotas, rather than old-fashioned expertise, is the driving prerequisite in some areas of sports administration Wimbledon's Finance Sub-Committee struck a blow for men in suits with its previously unpublicised decision to maintain pandemic insurance. The tournament had to be cancelled, but the eventual payout will cushion the financial blow to the order of somewhere in excess of £175 million.
THE FUTURE IS... MURKY
Better times ahead, surely, but the fate of the Australian Open and the early part of next season remains unclear. New stars will emerge, but the game must also brace itself for lower prize funds and the departure of some iconic names. It is likely that at least one of Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Andy Murray will have walked off into the sunset by this time next year.
2020 - Wins WTA Player of the Month
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Fans voted Iga as 'Player of the Month' for October 2020 - image courtesy & © of the WTA
October 2020 Player of the Month: Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek captured her maiden major title in emphatic fashion at Roland Garros and earned your votes as Player of the Month for October.
2nd November 2020 | By WTA Staff
Iga Świątek rolled to Grand Slam glory at the French Open and has been rewarded with a victory as Player of the Month for October 2020, based on your votes. The Pole backed up her September breakthrough by marching towards her maiden major crown, first by stunning top seed and former World No.1 Simona Halep with the loss of just three games. She then dispatched surprise quarter and semifinalists Martina Trevisan and Nadia Podoroska respectively. Laying down one last nerveless performance, she swept past reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in a straight-set final, dropping just 28 games in seven matches.
"After winning against Simona, I already thought about this tournament as, like, my lifetime achievement. Really, I had no expectations," she admitted after hoisting the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen for the first time. "I think at the end I really just enjoyed the moment. It's not that I don't care if I'm going to win or lose. I'm just not thinking about it all the time. I'm focusing on the things I do right now because winning is just an effect of my work that I'm doing every minute."
The victory in Paris not only secured her Top 20 debut and her first WTA title, but also made her the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
2020 - Nominated for WTA Player of the Month
Nominees for the WTA 'Player of the Month' for October 2020 - images and source information courtesy of the WTA website
Three of 2020's top talents make up the ballot for WTA's October Player of the Month. Only one can win, and we want to get your votes. The trio of nominees all played some of their best tennis as WTA action returned to Europe, and each of them make a strong argument for taking home top honors in October.
Iga Świątek brought home Poland's first singles Grand Slam title in style, romping to victory in Roland Garros with the loss of just 28 games.
Runner-up to Świątek in Paris, Sofia Kenin backed up her run to the Australian Open title with an impressive fortnight on the terre battue, knocking out two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova to reach her second major final out of her last three appearances.
Finally, Aryna Sabalenka recaptured the form that helped her win a third career Premier 5 title at the Qatar Total Open in February with a seventh trophy at the inaugural J&T Banka Ostrava Open, outlasting countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in the first-ever all-Belarusian WTA final.
2020 - Poland* Honours Iga
From the official President of Poland's feed - Iga Świątek receives the 'Gold Cross of Merit' for a sporting achievement and promoting Poland internationally
*Oh and just so you know, this idiot President awarded Iga with this great national honour after having been tested and found to be POSITIVE for Covid-19 - what an unprecedented prat!
2020 - Iga salutes Radwanska's great achievements
Aga Radwańska - Polski Fan Club 11th October 2020
Piękne słowa Iga Świątek o Agnieszce Radwańskiej /Wonderful and heartwarming tribute by Iga Świątek about her predecessor Agnieszka Radwańska
Iga Świątek respectfully acknowledges Radwańska's enormous contribution to Polish Tennis
"Jestem z siebie dumna. Wykonałam świetną robotę przez ostatnie dwa tygodnie. Nie spodziewałam się, że zdobędę to trofeum. To dla mnie niesamowite, zmieniające życie doświadczenie. Czuję, że zapisałam się w historii, ale wciąż uważam, że Agnieszka Radwańska osiągnęła wiele, bo prezentowała najwyższy poziom przez bodajże 12 lat. Wiem, że wiele osób nas będzie porównywać. Muszę teraz utrzymać stabilny poziom przez kilka kolejnych lat, by można mnie było nazwać najlepszą tenisistką w Polsce. Wciąż mam bowiem wiele do zrobienia. Na razie to miano wciąż - według mnie - należy do niej."
Cytat pochodzi z konferencji pomeczowej
"I'm incredibly proud of myself. I've worked exceptionally hard over the last two weeks. I really did not expect to to win and to hold this great trophy. It's incredible that I could have achieved what is now a life-changing experience for me. I do feel that I have earned my place in history, but am ever mindful that Agnieszka Radwańska achieved massively and raised the bar over the past 12 years or so paving the way to great success. I know a lot of people will start comparing us now. I have to play consistently over the next few years before I can be called the best female tennis player in Poland. I still have much to learn and achieve. As far as I am concerned, this great accolade belongs only to her at this time." The quote comes from a post-match interview.
2020 - Cambridge for Iga
Another rare as 'Hen's Teeth' hard copy article from the Daily Mail which appeared on 12th October after Nadal's win and the 'French Crown' header is borrowed from the reference to the male player. It's an interesting concept and I hope appreciated by the United Kingdom.
2020 - 10th October - Wins the French Open
Iga Świątek wins her maiden Grand Slam title in Paris 2020 in one of the most bizarre stagings of a tournament ever - it was moved from a hot sunny June to a dismal wet October, it came barely two weeks after the US Open, it allowed only a skeleton staff and sparse spectators and they threatened to award it with an * asterisk! It was boycotted by several 'stars' of the game - it echoed the odd boycotted 1973 Wimbledon in the summer of discontent which was won by won by Jan Kodes
Was this win already written in the stars in 2016?
Was this result a portent of things to come in 2016 when Iga and Sofia were 17 and 19 respectively? - With thanks to Mariusz Wu for a wonderful find!
2020 - 8th October - Powers into Final
Getting the Daily Mail to acknowledge Polish Sporting achievements in hard copy is as rare as 'Hen's Teeth' so here's a scan of the congratulatory article which appeared in the Daily Mail on 9th October 2020!
At 19, Iga Świątek has put her studies on hold and has referred to her early career as being something akin to a gap year. It is turning out to be quite an adventure, as she is into her first Grand Slam at the French Open, where she will meet Australian Champion Sofia Kenin, the world no. 6. Świątek brushed aside Argentine outside Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-2, and has made it to the final without losing more than five games in any encounter. Not only that but this afternoon she is in the semi-finals of the doubles. Świątek, daughter of a former Olympic oarsman, is ranked 54 in the world. Of her education, she said: 'I'm only 19, so a lot can change during a few years. Right now it would be hard for me
to study during this tournament and afterwards.' American Kenin, 21, denied Petra Kvitova what would have been an emotional return to a major finals after the trauma of being attacked by a knifeman at her home in late 2017. The double Wimbledon champion was defeated 6-4, 7-5. It will be the first final since 2008 that features two players aged 21 or under.
2020 - 6th October - Incredible Iga makes history for Poland, storms into semis
Tuesday 6th October 2020 - Simon Cambers
The 19-year-old cruises past Trevisan to become first Polish woman in the Open Era to make last four in Paris
It's an old adage but a wise one. When you're winning, just keep doing what you're doing.
Iga Świątek reached her first Grand Slam semi-final on Tuesday, ending the stunning run of qualifier Martina Trevisan of Italy 6-3, 6-1, having trailed 3-1 early on before winning 11 of the next 12 games to set up a meeting with another qualifier, Argentina's Nadia Podoroska. The 19-year-old is the first Polish woman to reach the semi-finals at Roland-Garros in the Open era, going one round further than Agnieszka Radwanska, who made the quarter-finals in 2013.
Radwańska was quick to send Świątek her congratulations on social media and the Pole said the secret to her success was keeping everything the same as she has throughout the tournament, including the music she's been listening to.
"Sometimes I'm listening to calm music when I need to calm down, like (when) the adrenaline level is too high," she said. "Right now I was being kind of sleepy before match. Actually, I wish I could say something new to you, but I was still listening to Guns N' Roses 'Welcome to the Jungle' because I want to keep my routines. "Actually, I wanted to change it because right now it's kind of boring to listen every day to the same song. Yeah, I stayed with Guns N' Roses because I wanted to win. That's it." Keeping the routine was not easy for Świątek or Trevisan on Tuesday, with the pair forced to wait until 9pm before beginning their match, thanks to the five-hour, eight-minute epic between Diego Schwartzman and Dominic Thiem. When she trailed 3-1, it looked as if it might be a tough night for Świątek, who had beaten top seed Simona Halep in the previous round.
"It was kind of stressful," Świątek said. "I wasn't thinking that I'm playing quarter-final of a Grand Slam. I just kept doing everything I did before. I had to warm up three times. Martina had the same situation, so it was OK with me. "It was harder being on court today because the conditions were pretty tough. It was really windy. The wind was coming from the side. You had to change your game every break. I needed some time to get used to that. I did that pretty well after, I don't know, 15 minutes."
Świątek plays with a maturity beyond her years, taking the ball early in a manner reminiscent of Martina Hingis while she also revealed she had been inspired by the performance of Naomi Osaka, one of her best friends on tour, at the US Open. "Her US Open win, of course it's inspiring me because in previous tournaments when I was watching her game, I kind of felt she can play much better," she said. "In Western & Southern (Open), and US Open I felt like she's back, the best level of Naomi's tennis is here. It was inspiring." The Pole said she'd expected a tough match and for there to be difficult moments, an acceptance that helped her when she fell behind early in the first set. "Well, I was pretty nervous (today)," she said. "I knew that my opponent also can be nervous because it was her first match on Philippe-Chatrier. I remember last year when I played my first match on Philippe Chatrier. It was kind of horrible. "I just knew that I'm not going to play as perfect as with Simona. On my level, it's impossible to keep that level of consistency. "I just knew that I'm going to make some mistakes at the beginning because of the conditions. I just stayed really down-to-earth and really positive. I wanted to be aggressive from the beginning so I can lead on court. I did that pretty well." With a semi-final to come against world No.131 Podoroska, Świątek will now have to deal with being the big favourite, with the huge carrot of a place in a first Grand Slam final dangling tantalisingly in front of her.
What might help Świątek is the fact that she will play doubles on Wednesday, a welcome distraction, filling the time with something constructive instead of hours of thinking about what might be. "I'm going to not use my phone probably because I'm going to answer all the congratulations later," said Świątek, who added that her phone was "going to explode". "I just want to focus on the tournament still. Yeah, I'm just going to keep it going. I'm going to keep everything the same. Just doing better recovery because it's second week and we are all pretty tired." Being favourite against Podoroska will add its own pressure but Świątek said she would keep things simple. "I just play tennis, you know," she said. Trevisan, who came through qualifying to reach a first Grand Slam quarter-final, said she was proud of what she had achieved. "I'm sad for the match, but it's an incredible two weeks for me," the Italian said. "So today I close a very important chapter of my life. Tomorrow other chapters will begin. I'm just happy."
2020 - 4th October Swiatek on song, sends Halep packing
Flying to victory over Simona Halep in the strangely empty courts at Roland Garros 2020 - image sourced from Fb
Sunday 4th October 2020 - Ravi Ubha
- Polish teen avenges fourth-round defeat to top seed Halep, as qualifier Trevisan stuns No.5 seed Bertens
- Iga Świątek is a fan of rock band AC/DC and admits her go-to song at this year's Roland-Garros has been 'Welcome to the Jungle' by another rock outfit, Guns N' Roses.
- Lately, though, she has been listening to jazz, a genre often associated with more mellow tones.
- The mix is much like her tennis — generally loud and powerful, with a healthy dose of finesse for good measure.
Her big, heavy forehand and touch on drop shots are causing havoc to opponents, with top seed Simona Halep the latest to experience the Polish teen's impressive arsenal. Świątek told on-court interviewer Cedric Pioline she couldn't quite believe she had beaten Halep and in such resounding fashion, 6-1, 6-2, a year after she fell to the Romanian in 45 minutes at the same stage. The 19-year-old's shock at what had just unfolded was just as prevalent when she later addressed reporters. "I am, I think stunned," said Świątek, who is into her first Grand Slam quarter-final. The dots have thus been connected.
Those with good memories will recall last year in Paris, Halep defeated Świątek 6-1, 6-0 before exiting to another player born in 2001, Amanda Anisimova. On Friday, Halep got the better of Anisimova 6-0, 6-1 and indeed who was on the other side of the net waiting for her Sunday? Świątek. The Pole certainly noted the coincidence and drew inspiration from it. "I just felt that it's possible and I could do it," Świątek said. "I was thinking about that, and we were laughing (with her team) after the match that it's a really similar situation, because we are both 2001. "I think it's really nice that we have many younger players coming up and that aren't scared. And I'm happy that I am one of them, and I am going to continue in that way." Świątek has given herself two years to establish herself at the highest level and if she doesn't make the grade, plans on attending university instead. She is aiming high, inside the top 10 like her good friend Naomi Osaka, but simultaneously is not keen on rushing.
"I always liked to make progress one step after another, because I feel like I can be more consistent in the future, and pressure is a little bit lower," Świątek said. "I made it two times already to the fourth round and I feel like that was the perfect opportunity for me to be in a quarter-final. "But I'm really glad I wasn't in the final of [Roland-Garros] last year because I feel the pressure would be too big. And I like that I have time to grow up and I think it's perfect for me doing it one step after another." Perfect describes her play this fortnight at her favourite tournament. Indeed, the defeat of Halep continued her remarkable stint.
She first dispatched last year's finalist, Marketa Vondrousova, before ousting a doubles Grand Slam winner and one of the trickiest players on the tour, Hsieh Su-Wei. Then came a victory over Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, prior to her Sunday display over the reigning Wimbledon champion and 2018 champion in Paris. Świątek has surrendered a mere 16 games and some key numbers are staggering: 107 winners and only 71 unforced errors. In each of her four matches she has not given her opponents the time to breathe, jumping out to break leads of either 3-0 or 2-1 ahead of the first sit-down. "All the credit to her, she played unbelievable today and she was everywhere and she hit all the balls very strong, very powerful," Halep said. The 2018 champion was the latest top women's contender to exit in a span of less than 24 hours. Garbine Muguruza fell to Danielle Collins on Saturday night and then later on Sunday, Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan eliminated Kiki Bertens 6-4, 6-4 to reach her maiden Grand Slam quarter-final. In successive rounds, the 159th-ranked Trevisan — who had openly discussed her battles with an eating disorder — had seen off Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari and now the clay-loving 2016 Roland-Garros semi-finalist, Bertens. Świątek and Trevisan meet on Tuesday and for one, the sweet music is set to continue.
2019 - 31st May at the French Open
Teen Queens soar in Paris
Friday 31st May 2019 - Alex Sharp
Anisimova, Swiatek and Vondrousova are making a strong case for the WTA's teenage generation.
Goodbye Aga, Welcome, Iga
For Poland's Świątek, returning to Paris provides plenty of inspiration. Last year the world No.104 scooped the girls' doubles title alongside Caty McNally and 12 months on she is turning heads once again on the terre battue. The teenager unwrapped an early birthday present on Thursday by casting aside 16th seed Wang Qiang 6-3, 6-0 to book a maiden major third round. Świątek, who turned 18 yesterday, can look forward to a tussle with Olympic champion Monica Puig for a ticket into the second week. Now that would truly mark her transformation from the juniors to the pro level.
"I felt confident in juniors. I didn't know if I'm going to go there [the WTA level] fast or need some time. But I'm really happy that everything is working out," said Świątek. "Obviously when I was playing here last year's juniors, I didn't know that I'm going to play in main draw and be in third round. So it's amazing and I'm really happy." The Polish prodigy, bringing hope to her nation following the retirement of her countrywoman Agnieszka Radwańska, is playing freely, not daunted by the prospect of facing the top players. "I don't have any expectations and that's kind of cool because I'm not stressed or anything. I don't expect to win because I'm new here," continued the world No.104, highlighting her ability to play with clarity and composure.
"Maybe more about the confidence or the peace of mind sometimes and being able to focus. I think going from juniors to senior, I guess I wasn't that stressed. I just felt that I knew here I don't have to win anything, so that's why I could play my best. It was quite normal to me just to go to another level. I've done that all my life, so why would that be different?"
2019 - French Open
Iga posted this on her own social media time lines, sporting her latest Nike livery at Roland Garros - she scored two wins yesterday, on court moving sealmessly into Round 2 of only her second senior Grand Slam and another on social media. A Polish fan, Karolina Urban, complained to RG about the very unfortunate image of Iga on their official website - it has now been replaced. - Image sourced from Iga's Fb page
The Polish 'Ekipa' (Squad) at Roland Garros 2019 l to r (in a circular motion) Dawid Celt, Agnieszka Radwańska, Magda Linette, unknown, Iga Świątek, unknown, Alicja Rosolska and Piotr Sierzputowski (trainer) - image sourced from Iga Świąteks' Fb page
Iga Swiatek Could Be a Dangerous Floater in French Open Draw
By Dave Adair - 18th May, 2019
With the field for the second Slam of the season announced, 17-year-old Iga Świątek will be pleased to be one of three Poles automatically in the main draw. This will be Świątek's second Slam, but this time, she does not need to qualify. Świątek will turn 18 years old during the French Open (on May 31st). Monica Seles won the French Open at a mere 16 years old, but it would still be some feat, if not a record breaking one, were Świątek to pull off the seemingly impossible.
Image courtesy & © of Getty
Iga Swiatek is Molding a Clay Future
Poland's Iga Świątek clay season is progressing well. She reached the final at the WTA Samsung Open before losing in a tense battle to Polona Hercog. Breezing through qualifying in Prague, gaining more and more WTA level clay experience is just the tonic for Świątek. She succumbed to Czech player Karolina Muchova in the first round there. A 7-2 record so far this season is sturdy form to take into her first Slam event on red clay at the French Open.
No Wild Card Assistance for Iga Swiatek This Season
The amiable 17-year-old Świątek rose to prominence through an impressively mature performance when winning the Wimbledon Juniors title last year. Despite this, she has not been handed any favours or wild cards. 2019 saw the Pole regularly competing in qualifying stages, including at the Australian Open, where she earned her main draw debut. It didn't stop there as she made it to the second round before being unable to deal with the power and precision of Camila Giorgi.
Red Clay is the Perfect Surface for Swiatek to Really Announce Herself on the Slam Scene.
Świątek did not attempt to qualify for Rome or Madrid and was not offered any wild cards. Therefore, the worry is that she goes into the French Open without any top-level clay exposure. However, she is well grounded enough to take it in stride. A 41-7 win-loss clay record over the past two seasons shows an affinity for the surface. Last season, a lot of the Pole's time was spent on the ITF/Challenger circuit honing her craft and gaining experience. This measured approach seems to be paying dividends. Świątek has not tried to use her Wimbledon Junior Champion status to bag WTA wild cards. She has approached the demands of professional tennis with maturity. Her demon groundstrokes and ability to redirect an opponent's power gives her the required weapons to go far in the French Open.
Swiatek's Game is Growing in Potency and Maturity
Craft and humility have seeped through Świątek's game from capturing the Wimbledon Junior 2018 title, to making her debut WTA Final in Lugano and her seven ITF titles. Świątek is right behind teenager Amanda Anisimova, who remains just a step ahead by virtue of having won a WTA title. The pair possesses the potential to forge a great future rivalry. However, Anisimova is predominantly a hard-courter and Świątek prefers other surfaces, which may influence the outcome of their future matches.
Świątek needs a good clay court Slam showing in order to build confidence going into the grass court swing. There, the Wimbledon Juniors 2018 Champion will return to the scene of her greatest triumph to date. The Pole is not uncomfortable on hard courts, but she does need to focus a little on adapting her game for the faster surfaces. Make no mistake: Świątek will be a dangerous floater in the Roland Garros draw.
2019 - Iga Swiatek: To dopiero poczatek! / This is just the beginning!
Przez | Piotr Dąbrowski - 14.04.2019
Polona Hercog (Champion) and Iga Świątek (Runner Up) in the Lugano Finals in 2019 - image sourced from and couresy of tennis.net.pl
Po tym jak osiągnęła finał turnieju rangi WTA International z Igą Świątek rozmawiamy o jednym z najprzyjemniejszych tygodni w jej zawodowej karierze.
W Lugano dosyć chłodno, ale chwilami również bardzo gorąco, prawda?
(śmiech) Było tak zimno, że cały czas, mimo że nie byłam przeziębiona, miałam katar. Mimo, że to jest jeden z mniejszych turniejów WTA to jest na pewno świetny początek sezonu na mączce. Cieszę się, że udało mi się tak daleko dojść i pokonać tyle dobrych dziewczyn z dużym doświadczeniem w tourze. Czułam się tutaj lepiej niż w Budapeszcie. Nie musiałam grać meczów w eliminacjach, więc dzięki temu sił starczyło mi na dłużej. Czuję się super, bardzo płynnie przeszłam z kortów twardych na mączkę. Jestem dobrze przygotowana do tej części sezonu i mocna.
88. miejsce w rankingu oznacza, że w Roland Garros zagrasz bez eliminacji.
Fajnie, ale nie mogę się doczekać kolejnego turnieju, zawsze chcę się skupić na każdym kolejnym meczu. Miło zagrać w Roland Garros bez eliminacji, ale szczerze to nie mam nic przeciwko nim. To jest zawsze więcej meczów, więcej doświadczenia Ja robię swoje, staram się z meczu na mecz grać coraz lepiej i szczerze to nie myślę o tym co będzie za kilka tygodni.
W finale było wiele emocji, wzruszeń i dobrego tenisa, choć dla Ciebie nie skończył się on w pełni szczęśliwie.
Deszcz przerwał nam na szczęście tylko raz. Byłam gotowa nawet na większe przeszkody, bo wczorajsze prognozy nie były za fajne. Jeśli chodzi o to było raczej ok. Problemem była temperatura i to, że właściwie cały czas miałyśmy zimne dłonie i właściwie przez to w I secie miałam bardzo mało czucia. Ale z drugiej strony obie miałyśmy te same warunki, więc nie można na to narzekać. Jestem naprawdę zadowolona z tego finału. Cieszę się, że w drugim secie potrafiłam wrócić do gry, bo byłam też trochę zmęczona tym turniejem. To był mój pierwszy mecz na tym turnieju z zawodniczką, która gra top spinem. Zazwyczaj ze mną dziewczyny grają bardzo płasko, więc ciężko było na początku się przestawić, ale jestem zadowolona z tego, jak zagrałam.
Trudy takiego tygodnia ciężko wytrzymać nie tylko fizycznie, ale też mentalnie, prawda?
Byłam trochę zmęczona. To był piąty mecz, dochodziło zmęczenie, nie tylko fizyczne, ale i mentalne. Było ciężko się skoncentrować. Może nie byłam jakaś wyczerpana, ale czasami w ważnych momentach poczułam, że psuję. Właśnie przez to, że nie byłam do końca skoncentrowana. Każdego siły się wyczerpują, to normalne. Jedyne o co mam pretensje to może o to, że pod koniec meczu w trzecim secie przestałam ze zmęczenia kontrolować swoje ciało i zaczęłam wychodzić trochę za bardzo z nóg i piłka leciała po prostu na dwumetrowe auty. Dwa, czy trzy razy się to zdarzyło. Ale właściwie zrobiłam wszystko to, co chciałam. Byłam troszkę bardziej zdenerwowana niż zwykle, ale raczej starałam się trzymać nerwy na wodzy. Mimo wszystko, wolę powtarzać sobie w takich sytuacjach, że grałam na turniejach wielkoszlemowych i miałam ważniejsze momenty w życiu Nie chodzi, żeby umniejszać ten moment, który jest świetny, tylko po prostu to służy temu, żeby się uspokoić. Ale nie mam żadnych wyrzutów sumienia. Nawet "dobrze", że przegrałam, bo to mnie motywuje do jeszcze większej pracy. Może gdybym wygrała to nie wiem, czy to nie byłoby nawet dla mnie za szybko.
Ten turniej będzie w pewnym stopniu szczególny, czy nic nie może się równać z zeszłorocznym Wimbledonem?
Wydaje mi się, że było więcej emocji na turnieju wielkoszlemowym, bo mimo wszystko to jest jeden z mniejszych turniejów WTA i nie było tu otoczki i atmosfery wielkiego wydarzenia. Aż tak bardzo się nie stresowałam. Nie byłam tak podekscytowana, jak inni. Wiadomo, juniorski Wimbledon jest na razie dla mnie ważniejszy. Tych 250-tek jeszcze w swoim życiu trochę zagram, mam nadzieję trochę finałów też, a juniorski Wimbledon już się nie powtórzy.
Rozmawiał: Piotr Dąbrowski
2019 - LUGANO, SWITZERLAND 14th April, 2019
'It's the final, so you give everything' - Hercog overcomes Swiatek to lift third trophy in Lugano
Polona Hercog captured her first title in seven years at the Samsung Open presented by Cornèr with a three-sets defeat of first-time finalist Iga Świątek.
LUGANO, Switzerland - An invincible Polona Hercog stormed to her third career title at the Samsung Open presented by Cornèr, surviving the precocious power of rookie Iga Świątek in an all-unseeded final 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 16 minutes.
Iga in action - screenshot from WTA video
It is the Slovenian's first trophy in seven years - previously, Hercog had been back-to-back Bastad champion in 2011 and 2012, and the last time she hoisted silverware her opponent today was just 11 years old - and means she becomes the 17th different winner in 17 WTA Tour tournaments this season.
Hercog also ends her young rival's unbeaten streak in professional finals: Świątek had won all seven title matches she had previously contested on the ITF World Tour. Despite the loss, though, the Pole is guaranteed to break the Top 100 for the first time on Monday.
For all that Świątek has impressed this week, the 17-year-old is still very much a novice at this level - Lugano is just the third WTA main draw of her career - and she came out misfiring both in terms of execution and tactics. Five attempted dropshots in the first six games all went awry, and an hour-long rain delay with Hercog up a break at 3-2, 30-0 failed to settle the youngster, who racked up 23 unforced errors to nine winners in the opening act.
Instead, it was Hercog who lifted her level after the delay. Three aces and canny use of the slice to entangle her opponent took the 28-year-old to a 5-2 lead; and although Świątek played her best game of the match at that point, pummeling the Hercog second serve with unretrievable returns to every corner of the court to save three set points and come through on her fifth break point, the Pole couldn't back it up. Careless net play and yet another ill-advised dropshot attempt paved the way to Hercog breaking back for the set.
Świątek is not one for backing off daring plays, though, and the second set found the Wimbledon junior champion crowding the net at every opportunity in her bid to turn the match around. More untrammelled aggression on return gained her the first break of the set for 2-1 - but, just as at the end of the first set, Świątek was unable to sustain her level on serve, and Hercog levelled the score at 2-2.
Iga at the changeover - screenshot from WTA video
But the occasional glimpses the Lugano crowd had seen of the World No.115's ability blossomed into sustained form midway through the second set. At 3-3, Świątek finally mastered two patterns that had hitherto bedevilled her: surviving Hercog's slices to power through a forehand of her own, and - at last! - coming up with a winning dropshot.
Now striking winners from all over the court, Świątek reeled off six consecutive games, breaking the World No.89 three times, to level the match and take a 2-0 lead in the deciding set.
But a pair of excellent forehands put Hercog in a good position to get back into the match, and a careless volley error from Świątek down break point extended the lifeline. The experienced veteran needed no encouragement to seize it, showing off her touch to once again nullify Świątek's dropshot attempts, and finding her best serves when she most needed them.
From 0-2 down, Hercog would concede only two more points behind her delivery. Unable to tee off on return, the pressure was firmly on the youngster's shoulders on her own serve, and as the title began to slip from her grasp her forehand was particularly found wanting. One sailed over the baseline to drop serve for 2-3, and four games later that wing broke down once again, with another wild mistake - her 51st unforced error of the day - delivering the title to Hercog on her second championship point.
Iga and Polona handshake at the net - screenshot from WTA video
For Hercog, who had won only one WTA main draw match in 2019 prior to this week, a formidable week in Switzerland which started with a first-round upset of No.2 seed Carla Suárez Navarro ends with her season turned around in the best possible way - and, with her beloved clay season stretched out before her, she is primed to be a threat for the next few months.
2019 - Runner-Up Lugano
LUGANO, Switzerland - Polish teenager Iga Świątek needed just 54 minutes on Saturday to reach her first career WTA final. The reigning junior Wimbledon champion defeating Kristyna Pliskova with the loss of just one game, 6-0, 6-1, in the second semifinal. "I feel great. I'm quite surprised that I'm in the final, because that was my first tournament that I played [directly] in main draw, but I'm really happy that I made it," Świątek said after the match. "I was believing in myself, and I hope tomorrow will be a great match also."
Świątek won the first nine games of the match before the left-handed Pliskova sister got on the board, and she was forced to save six break points across three consecutive service games in the second set to fend off a Czech rally. Pliskova held 15-40 leads on the teenager's serve at 0-2 and 1-3 in the second set, but was unable to take her chances to get the set back on serve, and also failed to convert on the same lead as Świątek served for the match. Despite serving at just 50 percent in the opener, the Polish teenager dropped just one point behind her first serve, and seven points overall on serve, in the opening-set bagel. Świątek totaled 28 winners over the course of the match to just 13 unforced errors, never allowing Pliskova to dictate off the serve or the first shot in the rally. The Czech landed just 45 percent of her first serves in the match, served five double faults, and tallied double the amount of unforced errors (20) to winners (10). The 17-year-old is guaranteed a Top 100 debut for her efforts this week in the Swiss Alps, and by virtue of reaching the final, will be her country's highest-ranked player on Monday.
She will play for her first tour-level title in her third career main draw appearance, having qualifier for both the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Hungarian Ladies' Open in Budapest this year. "I saw her in a few tournaments, but I'm still new on the WTA tour," the teenager said of Hercog. "My coach will probably tell me everything - tactics and stuff - so I will be ready." - Source : WTA
Junior Olympics 2018 - Gold in Doubles
Iga Świątek and Kaja Juvan of Slovenia - Gold Medallists at the Buenos Aires Junior Olympics - imaged sourced from Fb and © of the Polish Olympic Committee
Wimbledon 2018 - Girls Champion
WIMBLEDON 2018 ROLL OF HONOUR
Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic (Srb)
Women's Singles: Angelique Kerber (Ger)
Women's Doubles: Barbora Krejcikova (Cz), Katerina Siniakova (Cz)
Men's Doubles: Jack Sock (US), Mike Bryan (US)
Mixed Doubles: Alexander Peya (Aut), Nicole Melichar (US)
Boys' Singles: Chun Hsin Tseng (Tai)
Girls' Singles: Iga Świątek (Pol)
Boys' Doubles: Yanki Erel (Tur), Otto Virtanen (Fin)
Girls' Doubles: Xinyu Wang (Chn), Xiyun Wang (Chn)
Świątek wins girls' singles title - Fourth Polish name on the singles trophy as Swiss qualifier Leonie Kung is beaten - image and dialogue courtesy & © of wimbledon.com
Iga Świątek took a close look at the engraving on the Wimbledon girls' singles trophy as she walked a victory lap on No.1 Court on Saturday, and was clearly satisfied with what she saw. A fourth Polish name has been added to those of past champions Alexandra Olsza and the Radwańska sisters, Agnieszka and Urszula. Świątek's score was the most emphatic, the 17-year-old from Warsaw having beaten Swiss qualifier Leonie Kung 6-4, 6-2 in 73 minutes. After a Kung forehand flew long on the first match point, Świątek raised her hand to her face in what was initially a subdued celebration, before dashing into the crowd to embrace her emotional family and team, some of them in T-shirts bearing her name. Remember it. Having missed seven months after right ankle surgery last year, Świątek has made a strong return, reaching the last four at Roland-Garros and sharing the doubles title with American Caty McNally. The hard-hitting baseliner has now won the most prestigious junior tournament of all.
Clay remains her preferred surface, though, and Świątek has a stronger serve and greater weight of shot at this stage than the rangier Kung. She hit eight aces among 33 winners to just 13 unforced errors, while making good use of the drop shot. The only set Świątek lost in six rounds was her first, against world No.1 Whitney Osuigwe; her next toughest test coming in the semi-final against No.4 Xinyu Wang. Kung had beaten four players in the top 15, while also conceding just a single set, having warmed up at Roehampton to earn her debut place in a junior Grand Slam main draw. The Pole has already achieved some promising results at senior level, having made her Fed Cup debut after graduating from the successful 2016 Junior Fed Cup team, won five ITF titles and attained a WTA ranking of No. 341. While yet to meet long-time Polish standard-bearer Agnieszka Radwańska, the 2005 Wimbledon junior champion and 2012 ladies' finalist, Świątek appears well-equipped to join the former world No.2 at tour level reasonably soon. Kung, too, has played fewer under-age events than many of her junior contemporaries, and her parents and sister had made their way across from the family's horse farm in the German-speaking part of Switzerland to support the first qualifier to reach a Wimbledon girls' final since Russian Anna Chakvetadze in 2003. In the event, she met the same - losing - fate. Kung dropped her opening service game and another when attempting to stay in the first set, and was then nobbled by a pair of double faults from game point up to fall behind 3-1 in the second.
A brilliant week had ended disappointingly, but there were enough encouraging signs to suggest there will be more to come. Świątek said it was too early to ask how it felt to be a Wimbledon champion. "I'm too overwhelmed. I don't feel it. I have to rest and then I will enjoy everything,'' she smiled. "I was scared that I will not do well because of the stress and the pressure. But I felt great on court. My serve was really good. I played very fast balls, so I'm happy with that.'' said Iga Świątek
Both players have ruled a line under their junior tournament careers, believing themselves ready to move on. Both will savour the experience, Świątek relishing her taste of tennis on a big stage and eager for more. "I was thinking that this is why I play tennis, to make the show, to make people clap, to make them enjoy the game. I don't know, I feel like that's my goal, to entertain. I think I learn it today. I didn't know about it. That's new for me.'' She will play the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics, but otherwise feels it's time to move on. "I play junior Grand Slam since 2016. I had a long time to play juniors. Now we had to take another step,'' Świątek said. "I want to build a better WTA ranking and to play senior tournaments. I hope I will do well next year in Wimbledon if I get a wild card to ladies' singles. I can't wait.'' Source : Wimbledon.com
Image courtesy & © of Weszlo.com
Not since 2005 when Agnieszka Radwańska took both Junior crowns at Wimbledon (Singles and Doubles) have I been so excited by a newcomer. I remember watching Aga play her matches whilst staying at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe. It was the Wimbledon Finals w/e and nothing but the Midland could have dragged me away from my annual favourite fortnight! But we were there and the tv had a red button and I watched all 5 of the matches Aga was scheduled to play over two days - a quarter, semi and final in the singles and a semi and final in the doubles! I eschewed the main matches that year to watch this slip of a girl who proved victorious! This year, the Polish flag was being waved high and proud by Iga Świątek whose name I first noticed when I saw that (unseeded) she was winning her way to the latter stages of the competition. Her doubles partner Caty McNally beat her in the semi-finals and was in turn beaten in the singles final, but both girls were rewarded in the doubles. She is no stranger to success at the French Open having reach the same stage in 2017 but leaving as the runner-up with partner and fellow Pole Maja Chwalińska.
In 2018 Iga represented Poland in the Federation Cup -
Iga Świątek weźmie udział w turnieju Grupy I Strefy Euroafrykańskiej Pucharu Federacji, który odbędzie się w Tallinie w dniach 7-10 lutego. Tenisistka Legii wspierana przez Warsaw Sports Group ma szansę pojawić się na korcie po raz pierwszy od czerwca 2017 roku. W składzie reprezentacji na FedCup zastąpiła Katarzynę Piter. Dla Igi będzie to debiut w reprezentacji Polski.
- Iga Świątek will participate in the Euro/Africa Zone 1 play-off tournament which will take place in Tallinn, Estonia from 7th to 10th February. The Legia tennis star, sponsored by Warsaw Sports Group has the opportunity to appear on court for the first time since June 2017. She replaces Katarzyna Piter in the Federation Cup Squad. For Iga this will also be her debut appearance representing Poland.
Polki pojadą do Estonii w składzie: Magda Linette, Magdalena Fręch, deblistka Alicja Rosolska oraz Iga, którą nowy kapitan reprezentacji Dawid Celt powołał w miejsce Katarzyny Piter. W Tallinie nie zagra Agnieszka Radwańska, w tej sytuacji rola liderki kadry przypadnie Magdzie Linette.
- The Polish squad travelling to Estonia, will consist of Magda Linette, Magdalena Fręch, doubles specialist Alicja Rosolska and Iga, whom new Federation Cup Captain Dawid Celt called up in place of Katarzyna Piter. Agnieszka Radwańska will not be participating in Tallinn and her place as team leader will be taken by Magda Linette.
Poland's formidable Fed Cup Team with Aga and Iga standing shoulder to shoulder (in separate rows) - image courtesy & © of Sports Group.pl
Na powrót Igi Świątek do walki na korcie czekaliśmy od czerwca 2017 roku. Właśnie wtedy, podczas organizowanego przez WSG turnieju Warsaw Sports Open, 16-letnia warszawianka doznała poważnego urazu stawu skokowego. Dzięki porozumieniu WSG z Enel-Sport młoda tenisistka przeszła operację i kompleksową wielomiesięczną rehabilitację w klinice przy Łazienkowskiej 3, pracując też oczywiście ze swoim sztabem trenerskim - Piotrem Sierzputowskim i odpowiadającą za przygotowanie motoryczne Jolantą Rusin.
- We have been awaiting Iga Świątek's return to the court since June 2017. It was then, whilst participating in the WSG Tournament Warsaw Sports Open that the 16-year old Warsaw local sportsperson sustained a serious ankle injury. Thanks to the understanding of WSG and Enel-Sport the young tennis prodigy underwent a surgical procedure and a complex rehabilitation lasting several months. She was also working, in tandem, with her regular training team led by Piotr Sierzputowski and her mobility advisor Jolanta Rusin.
Reprezentacja Polski znalazła się w grupie D turniejowych zmagań. Polki zagrają z Turcją, Austrią i Łotwą. Do fazy finałowej awansuje tylko najlepsza drużyna. Dwie najlepsze reprezentacje z Tallina dostaną szansę walki w kwietniowych barażach o Grupę Światową B, a dwie najgorsze - spadną do Grupy I Strefy Euroafrykańskiej. Łatwo nie będzie - Łotyszki wystawią w Estonii najmocniejszy skład, na czele z Jeleną Ostapenko i Anastasiją Sevastovą, którym będą pomagać Diana Marcinkevica i Daniela Vismane. Austriaczki wystąpią w składzie: Barbara Haas, Julia Grabher, Melanie Klaffner i Pia König, a w zespole Turczynek zagrają: Cagla Buyukakcay, Basak Eraydin, Ipek Soylu i Ayla Aksu.
- The struggling Polish Team find themselves in Group D of the tournament. The Poles will be competing against Turkey, Austria and Latvia - only the top team in the round robin event will advance to the final. The top two teams battling it our in Tallinn will earn the opportunity to play off for advancement to World Group B, the two worst teams be relegated to Group 1 of the Euro/Africa Zone 1. It won't be easy - Latvia will field the strongest squad led by Jelena Ostapenko and Anastasia Sevastova and supported by Diana Marcinkevica and Daniela Vismane. The Austrian squad will consist of Barbara Haas, Julia Grabher, Melanie Klaffner and Pia König and the Turkish team will present Cagla Buyukakcay, Basak Eraydin, Ipek Soylu and Ayla Aksu.
Dla Igi Świątek będzie to debiut w seniorskiej reprezentacji Polski. W odsłonie juniorskiej warszawianka radziła sobie wyśmienicie - w 2016 roku triumfowała w FedCup wraz z Mają Chwalińską i Stefaną Rogozińską-Dzik.
- For Iga Świątek this will be her debut for Poland's senior national team. She proved formidable in the Junior Federation Cup Team winning the trophy in 2016 with Maja Chwalińska and Stefana Rogozińsk-Dzik.
Powołanie do reprezentacji Polski, które zawsze jest dla sportowca wielkim honorem sprawiło, że Iga zawiesiła swoje pierwotne plany, rezygnując z występów w Futuresach ITF Pro Circuit w Egipcie (pula 15 tys. dolarów).
- Being called up to represent Poland, which is always a great honour, meant that Iga had to change her original plans, withdrawing from the ITF Pro Futures Circuit in Egypt and sacrificing a potential $15k pay cheque. Source : Sportsgroup.pl
Tenis. Wojciech Fibak: Iga Swiatek jak Kim Clijsters, Agnieszka Radwanska jak Justin Henin
Łukasz Jachimiak 16.04.2018
Ona sprawia wrażenie burzy, fruwa, wszystko się u niej dzieje błyskawicznie - mówi Wojciech Fibak o Idze Świątek. Czy niespełna 17-latka zostanie następczynią Agnieszki Radwańskiej? - Gdyby doszło do meczu Radwańska - Świątek, to już teraz impet, siła Igi, nie pozwoliłyby Agnieszce pokazać technicznej, delikatnej gry - ocenia nasz najlepszy tenisista w historii.
- "She gives the impression of a hurricane, everything happens with lightning speed" Wojciech Fibak describing Iga Świątek. Is this, not quite 17 year old, Agnieszka Radwańska's natural successor? " If there were to be a match between Radwańska and Świątek right now, then the impetus and strength of Iga would not allow Agnieszka to show her technical craft and delicately nuanced game" opines our (Polish) greatest tennis player.
Trener (Trainer) Piotr Sierzputowski i Iga Świątek Fot. twitter.com/arturbochen
To zupełnie inny talent
It's a completely different type of talent
Łukasz Jachimiak: Iga Świątek właśnie osiągnęła największy sukces w karierze, wygrywając turniej WTA w Pelham z pulą nagród 25 tys. dolarów. Iga za półtora miesiąca skończy 17 lat, w światowym rankingu zajmuje 641. miejsce, ale już wiadomo, że triumf w USA pozwoli jej awansować w okolice 420. pozycji. Ma Pan dla niej taką wróżbę, jak kiedyś dla Agnieszki Radwańskiej?
- Łukasz Jachimiak: Iga Świątek has just earned her greatest success to date winning a $25,000 WTA tournament in Pelham. Iga will turn 17 in six weeks and already has a world ranking of 641 which will rise to 420 following this win. Do you have a career prediction for her as you did once for Agnieszka Radwańska?
Wojciech Fibak: Iga to zupełnie inny talent niż Agnieszka. Radwańska od początku była wybitna technicznie, przypominała Martinę Hingis. Ona była małym geniuszem tenisa, z niezwykłym czuciem piłki, z precyzją, z delikatnością gry. Wszystko to może zachwycać, ale też czasami może boleć, w starciach z mocno bijącym rywalkami.
- Wojciech Fibak: Iga is a completely different talent compared to that of Agnieszka Radwańska. From the very start Radwańska was always technically brilliant, reminiscent of and not unlike Martina Hingis. She was a pocket tennis genius, with an uncanny feel for the ball creating a precision and delicate game plan. All this is mesmerising, but can sometimes also cause a great hurt, especially with hard hitting opponents.
Niestety, z biegiem lat boli coraz czesciej.
Unfortunately, as the years fly by, the hurt comes more frequently
Bo mocno bijących dziewczyn jest coraz więcej. Iga zalicza się do takiej grupy. Chcę wierzyć, że wkrótce będziemy mieli taką sytuację, jak kiedyś Belgowie, gdy błyszczały Justin Henin i Kim Clijsters. Można powiedzieć, że Agnieszka jest jak Justin, ma to cudowne, lekkie poruszanie się po korcie. Clijsters była atletyczna, miała inny talent, ona mocno biła piłkę, była bardzo przebojowa, dynamiczna. Iga mi ją przypomina. Do tego dochodzi jeszcze psychika.
- And there are more hard hitting opponents than ever these days. Iga belongs in that group. I want to believe that soon we will find ourselves in the same sort of situation as happened in Belgium when Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin stars shone brightly. You could say that Agnieszka is in the same mould as Justine, both possessing miraculous and light court cover. Clijsters was an athlete possessing a different talent, hitting the ball hard, very successful and dynamic. Iga reminds me of her, mentally and physically.
Zaimponowała mi odwage, wrecz szalenstwem
She impressed me with her uninhibited courage
Myśli Pan, że już można porównywać psychikę Radwańskiej i Świątek?
- Do you honestly think that now is the time to compare the physical attributes of Radwańska and Świątek?
Nie widziałem jeszcze aż tak wielu spotkań Igi, żeby mieć jednoznaczne zdanie, ale widziałem w jej postawie bardzo cieszące mnie rzeczy. Zaobserwowałem je choćby w Paryżu, na juniorskim Rolandzie Garrosie.
- I haven't seen that many of Iga's matches and how she deals with opponents to give you an unequivocal opinion, but what I have seen of her attitude on court makes me feel very positive about her future.
Mówi Pan o edycji French Open z 2016 roku, w której Iga dotarła do ćwierćfinału?
- Are you referring to the 2016 French Open where Iga got to the quarter-finals?
Tak, już wtedy zaimponowała mi odwagą, wręcz szaleństwem. U Agnieszki widzimy inne rzeczy. Od razu zaznaczam, że Agnieszka jest bardzo silna psychicznie. Mało kto o tym tak do końca wie, ale to jest naprawdę potęga mentalna, do tego zawodniczka bardzo sprytna. Ona jest znakomitym graczem. Kapitalnie łączy spryt z walecznością. W tym wątłym ciele jest niezwykły duch. I ja to wszystko widziałem już kiedy miała 16-17 lat. Dlatego po jej zwycięstwie nad Anastazją Myszkiną na turnieju w Warszawie [rzecz działa się w maju 2006 roku - Rosjanka była wówczas 12. zawodniczką świata, a 17-letnia Polka zajmowała 309. miejsce w rankingu] na konferencji prasowej powiedziałem do wszystkich dziennikarzy, że ta juniorka osiągnie największe w historii sukcesy w polskim tenisie, że przebije wszystkie moje wyniki. Ja to wtedy po prostu widziałem. Iga jest inna. Ale ona też ma coś wyjątkowego. Może nie aż takiego jak Agnieszka, bo było tylko kilka tenisistek z taką grą, z takim niezwykłym czuciem. A takich zawodniczek jak Iga - fruwających, odważnych, mocno bijących - jest więcej. To nie jest rodzynek. No chyba że w naszej historii, bo takiej polskiej tenisistki nie mieliśmy. Może ewentualnie Jadwiga Jędrzejowska [finalistka Wimbledonu z 1937 roku] taka była, ale tego tak naprawdę nie wiemy. A ze współczesnych, to Kasia Nowak była regularna, Magda Grzybowska była precyzyjna, Marta Domachowska grywała z polotem, z siłą, próbowała dominować. Ale Iga ma większe możliwości, to zdecydowanie nasza przyszłość. Śledzę jej karierę, zbliżyłem się do rodziny, trzymam kciuki i żałuję, że Iga dopiero co straciła pół roku przez kontuzję. Trochę czasu dziewczyna straciła, ale świetnie, że znów zachwyca. Miejmy nadzieję, że wkrótce zdobędzie tyle punktów, żeby mogła grać w większych turniejach, tam przebijać się przez eliminacje i liczę, że pod koniec roku będzie już może nawet w pierwszej setce.
- Yes, even then she made an impression on me with her bravery and not a little madness. In Agnieszka we see very different traits. I will say from the onset that Agnieszka is very psychologically strong. Not many may be aware of this strength, but it made her a great and extraordinary player. She combined risk and courage in her style of play. Although physically diminutive compared to her opponents she possessed a rare spirit for the game and this was all visible when she was about 16 or 17 years old. That is why, after her triumph over Anastasia Myskina, then no. 12 in the WTA rankings, in Warsaw in May 2006, herself ranked 309, I said in the Press Conference that followed that this 17 year old junior would overtake any previous successes in Polish tennis including mine. At the time I just visualised it as fact. Iga is different but she she still has a unique quality. Maybe not as intuitive as Agnieszka, who possesses that particularly rare quality found amongst few competitors. There are far more opponents like Iga, lightning fast, brave and hard hitting. That isn't an excuse or criticism, but players of the calibre of Agnieszka are few and far between in Polish tennis history. Maybe, potentially Jadwiga Jędrzejowska (the Wimbledon finalist in 1937), but we cannot be certain. I would describe the current Polish tennis players in these categories, Kasia Nowak plays a steady game, Magda Grzybowska is a precision player, Marta Domachowska plays with imagination, strength and attempts to dominate. However, Iga has greater potential, she is definitely the future of Polish tennis. I am following her career, getting to know her family and keeping my fingers crossed, but I'm also feeling great sorrow over the time she has lost through injury. She's lost a bit of time but is making up for it with enthusiasm. Here's hoping that she soon makes up the points to give her automatic entry into the more prestigious tournaments without having to go through qualifying rounds. I anticipate that she will be in the top 100 at the end of this year.
Sponsorzy to bardzo duze ułatwienie
Wspomniał Pan turniej J&S Cup, w którym Radwańska miała okazję walczyć z czołowymi tenisistkami świata dzięki "dzikiej karcie". Świątek nie ma tyle szczęścia, teraz nie mamy takiego turnieju.
- Oczywiście, że to jest duże ułatwienie. Bardzo żałuję, że Iga go nie ma. Podczas niedawnego Pucharu Davisa w Sopocie w środowisku właśnie o tym rozmawialiśmy. Jest nadzieja, że może dzięki sukcesom Igi jakiś sponsor się znajdzie i turniej powstanie. Szkoda, że tak się złożyło, że kiedy mieliśmy turniej w Katowicach, to Agnieszka, choć generalnie świetnie grała w hali, akurat tam nie wygrywała. Pechowo się złożyło dla sponsorów, organizatorów, dla publiczności. Wsparcie ze strony miasta było i to duże, ale turniej się nie utrzymał. Oby wrócił jakiś na kortach otwartych. Mieliśmy przecież w Warszawie i Marię Szarapową, i Venus Williams, i Clijsters, i Swietłanę Kuzniecową. Pamiętam jej mecz z Anią Kurnikową. Niby krótko mieliśmy te turnieje, ale jednak były piękne. Bardzo by się przydało, żeby wróciły.
Radwanska była brylantem
Gdyby za chwilę w Polsce miał się odbyć turniej z udziałem kilku gwiazd, a Świątek dostałaby "dziką kartę", to co powiedziałby Pan dziennikarzom? Proszę o szczerość, mam wrażenie, że nie byłby Pan tak przekonany, że Iga osiągnie wielkie sukcesy, jak był Pan o tym przekonany w przypadku Radwańskiej. Zresztą, Agnieszka jako 16-latka wygrała juniorski Wimbledon, a rok później Rolanda Garrosa. Iga nie ma takich triumfów.
- Niedawno znalazłem swoje zdjęcie z Agnieszką z tamtego warszawskiego turnieju. Buźka okrągła, włosy trochę kręcone, no dzieckiem była wtedy Radwańska. Ale kiedy widziałem ją na korcie, to już byłem w zachwycie. Kapitalnie się poruszała, świetnie grała taktycznie, technicznie, i podcinała, i lobowała, i tak niezwykła była ta precyzja zagrać, że oczu nie mogłem oderwać. Dlatego śmiało mówiłem, że to zawodniczka na pierwszą "10" rankingu WTA i na wiele wygranych turniejów. Wiedziałem, że przebije moje wyniki. Natomiast Iga będzie się ścierać z wieloma tenisistkami podobnymi do siebie. Jej styl to styl Muguruzy, Switoliny i wielu tych młodych dziewczyn, które odważnie wchodzą, jak Osaka. Agnieszka była brylantem, jej technika była często porażająca dla siłowo grających tenisistek.
Iga potrafi połaczyć siły z precyzja
Na pewno dobrze jest umieć odpowiedzieć sprytem na siłę, ale patrząc na Radwańską wiele razy przekonywaliśmy się, że brak dobrych warunków fizycznych to jednak duże ograniczenie. Może Świątek - już wyższa (o 4 cm) i cięższa (o osiem-dziewięć kilogramów) od Radwańskiej - techniczne niedostatki zrekompensuje sobie siłą?
- Iga ma taki temperament, tak potrafi połączyć siłę z precyzją i tak w siebie wierzy, że stać ją na duże sukcesy. Jestem jeszcze ciekaw, jak ona się będzie rozwijała jeśli chodzi o poruszanie się po korcie. Ona sprawia wrażenie burzy, fruwa, wszystko się u niej dzieje błyskawicznie. A chciałbym popatrzeć spokojnie, jak będzie sobie radziła, kiedy trafi na groźniejszą przeciwniczkę i zobaczyć, jak gra, kiedy czasami będzie musiała być w obronie, jak się wtedy porusza po korcie, jak się ślizga na przykład na ziemi. U Agnieszki poruszanie się po korcie zawsze zachwycało. Wydaje się, że ona nie biega, a jednak wszędzie jest. To połączenie świetnego poruszania się i znakomitej antycypacji. Nie wiem czy Iga też to ma. W sumie moja prognoza dla niej nie będzie może aż tak optymistyczna jak ta sprzed lat dla Agnieszki, ale na pewno jest bardzo optymistyczna. Ja w tę dziewczynę mocno wierzę. Nie powiem, że ona przebije wszystko, co osiągnęła Agnieszka. Ale może się okazać, że kiedyś odniesie olbrzymi sukces, jakiego Agnieszka nadal nie ma.
Swiatek moze wygrać turniej wielkoszlemowy
Oczywiście ma Pan na myśli wygranie turnieju wielkoszlemowego?
- Tak, jeśli Iga dalej będzie się tak rozwijać, to ze swoją siłą przebicia, przebojowością i uderzeniem może wygrać któryś z najważniejszych turniejów, mimo że nie ma tego kunsztu, jaki podziwiamy u Agnieszki.
Gdyby za chwilę miało dojść do meczu Świątek - Radwańska, to Iga miałaby jakiekolwiek szanse na pokonanie Agnieszki, czy jeszcze musi się sporo nauczyć?
- W poniedziałek w Monte Carlo Novak Djoković grał z Dusanem Lajovicem i ja się bałem, że ten Lajovic wygra [było 6:0, 6:1 dla faworyta], bo to Serb i świetnie zna rodaka. Gdyby doszło do meczu Radwańska - Świątek, to z jednej strony pewnie Agnieszka punktowałaby nieregularność rywalki, ale z drugiej strony impet, siła gry Igi, to nie pozwoliłoby Agnieszce pokazać technicznej, delikatnej gry. Radwańskiej byłoby bardzo niewygodnie grać ze Świątek. I mentalnie na pewno trudniej byłoby Agnieszce. Iga nie miałaby nic do stracenia, grałaby z wielką mistrzynią, z którą mogłaby tylko zyskać. A jeśli one zagrają ze sobą nie teraz, tylko najwcześniej za około pół roku, to Iga już trochę okrzepnie, lepiej pozna tajniki touru i Agnieszce będzie jeszcze trudniej. Pewnie rutyna Agnieszki by przeważyła, ale Igi wcale nie skazywałbym na porażkę.
To moze być nastepczyni Agnieszki Radwaskiej. Poznajcie Ige Swiatek
Is this Agnieszka Radwanska's successor? Let's meet Iga Swiatek
Kamil Gapiński - 28 stycznia 2017
Czy mamy w Polsce tenisistkę, która posiada potencjał, aby za kilka lat zrobić karierę na poziomie Agnieszki Radwańskiej? Owszem. Dziewczyna nazywa się Iga Świątek. Wczoraj poległa w finale deblowego Australian Open juniorów, ale że jest niespełna 16-latką, to jeszcze wiele okazji do młodzieżowych triumfów przed nią. A potem kto wie, może zaistnieje w światku "dorosłych" zawodniczek?
- Do we have a female Polish tennis player who has the potential, in a few years time, to carve out a career for herself on the same level as Agnieszka Radwańska? Yes. Her name is Iga Świątek. Yesterday she lost in the doubles finals of the Junior Australian Open, but as is not yet sixteen, it is likely that there will still be many opportunities to succeed ahead of her. And afterwards, who knows, perhaps she will find herself in the ranks of 'senior' tennis.
Awans do finału wielkoszlemowego turnieju (w parze z Mają Chwalińską) to nie jedyny sukces Igi. Panna Świątek była już m.in. deblową mistrzynią Europy (w duecie z tą samą koleżanką), zakwalifikowała się do ćwierćfinału Rolanda Garrosa juniorek, wygrała też… pierwszy zawodowy turniej, w którym wystąpiła. OK, była to impreza rangi ITF z pulą nagród w wysokości zaledwie 10 000 USD, ale mimo to jesteśmy pod wrażeniem. W decydującym meczu Polka pokonała trzynaście lat starszą Rumunkę Laurę-Ioanę Andrei. Nie przeczytacie tu jednak historii o tym, jak krucha, młoda panna Świątek dzięki wybornej technice połączonej ze sprytem ograła doświadczoną rywalkę. Tak nie było, ponieważ to… Iga miała lepsze warunki fizyczne od swojej rywalki. I tu dochodzimy do pierwszej różnicy pomiędzy nią a Radwańską. Warszawianka jest potężną zawodniczką: mierzy 176 cm, waży około 65 kg.
- Her advance to the finals of the Grand Slam Junior Tournament (partnering Maja Chwalińska) wasn't Iga's only success. Miss Świątek has already attained the accolade of Junior Doubles Champion of Europe (with the same partner) having reached the quarter finals of Roland Garros and she won the first professional tournament that she entered. OK so that was only an ITF tournament with prize money just reaching $10k but even so we are already in awe of her. In the deciding match the Pole overcame her Roumanian opponent, thirteen years her senior, Laura-Ioana Andrei. However, you won't read the story of how a "fragile, young Miss Świątek, thanks to the excellent technique combined with cunning, beat an experienced rival" here. It wasn't like that ... Iga was better prepared physically than her rival. And here we can compare the first difference between her and Agnieszka Radwańska. The girl from Warsaw is a powerful opponent; she stands 176 cm and weighs around 65 kg.
"Agnieszka w jej wieku miała nogę jak ja ramię, a wcale nie jestem kafarem!" – śmieje się Artur Rolak, dziennikarz miesięcznika "TenisKlub".
- "At her age, Agnieszka's leg was about the size of my arm and I'm no 'kafar'" - chuckled Artur Rolak a journalist for the monthly magazine "TenisKlub".
Iga świetnie wpasowuje się w tendencje panujące w światowym tenisie. Jest atletyczna, wręcz męska. Gra ofensywnie, z rotacją, w stylu CoCo Vandeweghe – tłumaczy Joanna Sakowicz, trenerka i ekspertka telewizyjna.
- "Iga fits the profile of a current professional tennis player splendidly. She's athletic, and strong. She plays offensively and varies her game, rather like Coco Vandeweghe" explains Joanna Sakowicz, trainer and television pundit.
Kolejnym atutem panny Świątek jest pracowitość. Nie każda nastolatka z perspektywami na zawodową karierę spędza na korcie długie godziny, podczas których wylewa hektolitry potu. Niektóre młode dziewczyny nad trening przekładają czasem imprezy lub inne rozrywki. Iga taka nie jest.
- Another great attribute of Miss Świątek is her work ethic. Not every teenager with prospects for a professional career spends long hours on the court during which she produces hectolitres of sweat. Other young girls sometimes miss training for more entertaining pursuits. Iga isn't one of them.
Iga Świątek - Fot. facebook.com/klubtenisowylegia
Talent do tenisa ma sporo młodych dziewcząt. Talent połączony z chęcią, by zapierniczać – niewiele. Iga jest w tym gronie. Zamiast robić sobie dziesiątki zdjęć telefonem lub udzielać wywiadów, woli trenować. Często ją obserwuję i powiem panu jedno: chodzi na zajęcia z dużą przyjemnością, to da się odczuć – mówi Lech Sidor, ekspert "Eurosportu", ale i dyrektor sportowy ATL w Legii Warszawa.
- "Many young girls show a talent for tennis. But a combination of talent and a determination to win - not so many. Iga is in the first group. Instead of taking tens of 'selfies' or participating in interviews, she prefers to train. I observe her frequently and can confirm that she attends her training sessions with a great deal of pleasure, it emanates from her" says Lech Sidor a Eurosport expert and sports director of ATL in Legia Warszawa.
Czego jeszcze potrzeba, by w przyszłości odnieść sukces w zawodowym tenisie?
- What else is needed to succeed in professional tennis?
CONTINUE TRANSLATION FROM HERE! (Also some still waiting translation further above)
– Dobrych ludzi wokół, którzy będą utrzymywać człowieka w równowadze psychicznej. Dziewczyna nie może być zagłaskiwana i słuchać, że jest talentem jakiego świat nie widział. Od tego może się poprzewracać w głowie. Ale też nie ma prawa zachowywać się jak szara myszka. Powinna po prostu znać swoją wartość – uważa Joanna Sakowicz.
Zdaniem Lecha Sidora Świątek ma to szczęście, że otaczają ją mądre osoby.
– Znam dobrze jej ojca. To zdecydowanie nie jest wariat, który będzie rozdmuchiwał balon oczekiwań. Wręcz przeciwnie, to facet, który czasem je tonuje. Patrzy na karierę córki trzeźwym okiem, co na pewno będzie miało na nią pozytywny wpływ.
Te słowa potwierdza komentator Polsatu Sport Tomasz Tomaszewski:
– Tata Igi zrobił na mnie bardzo dobre wrażenie. Absolutnie nie jest typem zwariowanego rodzica, a przecież takich w historii tenisa nie brakowało.
– Żeby zaistnieć na poważnie w światowym tenisie, trzeba też mieć końskie zdrowie – przypomina Artur Rolak. – Niejedna kariera została przerwana z powodu kontuzji. W Polsce mieliśmy kiedyś Zuzannę Maciejewską. Zapowiadała się znakomicie, niestety uraz łokcia nie pozwolił jej się rozwinąć.
– Z tego co pamiętam także siostra Igi przestała grać z powodu problemów ze zdrowiem. Mam nadzieję, że nie będzie miała podobnych kłopotów – dopowiada Joanna Sakowicz
– Ma dobrą opiekę medyczną. Dba o nią Enel-Med, który zapewnia Idze między innymi fizjoterapeutę – przypomina Lech Sidor.
By stać się tenisistką na poziomie Radwańskiej, trzeba jednak czegoś więcej niż zdrowia, talentu, chęci do pracy i fajnego sztabu. Ładnie opowiada o tym Artur Rolak:
– Akademie na całym świecie hurtowo produkują tenisistów. Jeśli ubierzemy ich jednakowo, trudno będzie odróżnić jednego od drugiego, taka jest prawda. Prawdziwych mistrzów od tego grona odróżnia to, że mają swój styl. Znak firmowy, który czyni ich wielkimi. Weźmy takiego Bjorna Borga: technicznie był fatalny, ale trener uznał, że nie ma sensu go "naprawiać", bo jest skuteczny. Dobrze byłoby, żeby docelowo Iga również znalazła to coś, co ją napędzi.
Do tego, by panna Świątek ewentualnie odkryła swój znak firmowy, jeszcze daleka droga. Wszyscy nasi rozmówcy podkreślają jedno: bądźmy w stosunku do niej cierpliwi. Nie oczekujmy od tej dziewczyny, że będzie wielka za rok, dwa czy trzy. Nie, na to potrzeba czasu.
– Obecnie jest dziewiątą rakietą światowego rankingu juniorek. Moim zdaniem w najbliższych miesiącach mecze z nimi powinna mieszać ze spotkaniami z seniorkami. Nie może być tak, że poświęci się tylko grze z "dorosłymi". Wtedy mogłoby dojść do złej sytuacji: na przykład przegra pięć meczów z rzędu i kompletnie straci pewność siebie – uważa Artur Rolak. Lech Sidor zapewnia, że tego typu błąd nie zostanie popełniony:
– Iga ma jeszcze trzy pełne sezony gry w juniorach. Na pewno dobrze je wykorzysta, dojrzeje w tym czasie. Ona robi postępy właściwie z dnia na dzień. Przykład? Jakiś czas temu po nieudanych zagraniach psioczyła na cały świat, rozwalała rakiety. Teraz wyzbyła się tego typu zachowań. Niebawem pozbędzie się kolejnych złych nawyków. Polski tenis może mieć z niej olbrzymią pociechę.
– Biorąc pod uwagę wszystkie za i przeciw, mogę powiedzieć jedno: Iga Świątek to tenisistka, która może zrobić największą karierę z polskich tenisistek od czasu Agnieszki Radwańskiej – podsumowuje Tomasz Tomaszewski.
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