By Victor Kanayo
Polish Tennis star and World Number one Iga Swiatek on Saturday night (Nigerian time) won her first US Open after overpowering her opponent Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the final.
In winning the tournament, the 21-year-old Swiatek became the first Polish player to achieve such feat alongside winning her third major title and second for the year.
She won the Roland Garros in 2022 and 2021.
Swiatek is the first woman from Poland in the Open Era to make it beyond the round of 16 at the US Open.
Before 2022, the best results were fourth-round runs by Swiatek (in 2021) and Agnieszka Radwanska (in 2007-08, 2012-13, 2016).
Talking about her final encounter against Jabeur, in the first set, Swiatek hit an astounding 90% of her first serves in and won twice as many points as her Tunisian opponent 28-14.
She hit 11 winners and was 8 for 9 in net points won. She won the first three games of the set and the last three games of the set, Jabeur broke serve once and held serve on.
In the second set, Swiatek continued to play like she was a backboard, nothing getting past her. She jumped out to a 3-0 lead, same as the first set.
Jabeur battled back to hold serve for 1-3, saving three break points.
The Tunisian broke back to get back on serve 2-3 only to be broken back. A third straight break put Jabeur back on serve in the second set.
She drew even at 4-4. Jabeur missed three chances to break in the ninth game, but Swiatek rallied from 15-40 to hold for 5-4.
Jabeur held her nerve and her serve for 5-5. Swiatek held at 30 for 6-5.
Jabeur fought off a championship point to get to the second set tiebreak.
The Tunisian took a 5-4 lead in the tiebreak but Swiatek could not be rattled and won the next three points to capture the US Open crown.
This is Swiatek’s 10th career tournament win, and she remains on top in the rankings, while Jabeur moves up to No. 2.
