PARIS: Poland’s Iga Swiatek (pix) may have failed to add the WTA Finals title to her French and US Open crowns but finishes the year a dominant number one in the women’s tennis rankings.
The 21-year-old extended her points advantage over world number two Ons Jabeur of Tunisia despite losing to big-serving Belarus Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals in Texas last week.
It is the first time Swiatek has finished on top of the year end rankings.
Swiatek’s remarkable season included eight singles titles and a run of 37 straight match victories. Sabalenka ended her 15-match winning streak against top 10 players.
Swiatek’s path to the top was eased by the shock retirement in March of Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who finished number one from 2019-2021.
Sabalenka lost in the final to France’s Caroline Garcia– who became the second French woman to win the title following Amelie Mauresmo in 2005.
Both finalists in the WTA season-ender in Texas on Monday rise two places – Garcia to fourth and Sabalenka to fifth.-AFP