When a fourth-round defeat to Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open altered the complexion of Iga Swiatek’s season, her mindset shifted accordingly.
While that loss ended Swiatek’s 75-week reign at No 1, ushering Arnya Sabalenka to the top of the rankings for the first time, it was also something of a blessing in disguise for the Pole, allaying the pressure and expectation surrounding her after the glories of last year, when she won at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows and compiled a 37-match winning streak. For the first time in 17 months, the 22-year-old was not the WTA player with the biggest target on her back.
With the shackles cast off, Swiatek returned to the practice court with renewed zeal, sharpening her game technically and tactically. When she subsequently won in Beijing, the four-time grand slam champion spoke of her relief at once again being able to play with freedom, unencumbered by the baggage that goes with being No 1. Swiatek could once more look to the future with optimism.
On Monday night in Cancún, that future arrived. With a thumping 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jessica Pegula, Swiatek claimed a maiden WTA Finals crown and returned to the top of the rankings, clinching year-end No 1 for the second year in a row. It was the most one-sided final in the 51-year history of the season-ending showpiece and also the most dominant title run, the Pole conceding just 20 games across her five matches, which included a season-defining win over Sabalenka in the last four.
“It’s weird, because sometimes things in life come when you don’t expect them, and actually this is that kind of situation,” said Swiatek, whose tour-leading sixth title of the season – and 17th in all – means she will begin next year on an 11-match winning streak.
“After the US Open, I was able to reset and think about what actually makes me a better player. I stopped thinking about rankings and points, and I started to feel a little bit more free on court.
“So for sure, these past tournaments showed me that this is the right way to go, and I guess rankings and points come after that. I’m just really proud of myself that I can finish the year as world No 1.”
As Swiatek’s excellence drained the contest of suspense, Pegula endured the toughest of nights. Given the New Yorker’s form, and her victories over Swiatek this year at the United Cup and the Canadian Open, where she went on to win the second WTA 1000 title of her career, the match was widely expected to be a tight affair; instead, it was a rout more in line with her 6-3, 6-0 defeat to Swiatek in February’s Qatar Open final.
“I think it was a great week, looking at all [of it],” said Pegula, who ends the season ranked fifth, two spots below her career best. “There’s a lot more positives than negatives. Really, the only negative was today. But I’d much rather lose in the final against the No 1 player than go out early, like I did last year [when she lost all six of her matches in singles and doubles]. So to me it’s still an improvement, and I’m just trying to look at the positives of the entire year.”
She will not want for choice in that regard. The 29-year-old American has played some wonderful tennis this season, not least in Cancún, where her calm disposition, flawless technique and tactical nous have come into their own. Making light of the squally conditions and unpredictable playing surface, she advanced to the biggest final of her career without dropping a set, claiming a notable win over Sabalenka along the way as well as defeating Elena Rybakina, Maria Sakkari and, in the semi-finals, her close friend and doubles partner Coco Gauff.
In Swiatek, though, Pegula faced an opponent likewise at the top of her game and, on the day, superior in every department. A performance reminiscent of her victory over Lidumila Samsonova in the China Open final saw Swiatek struck a perfect balance between aggression and consistency, giving nothing away while dominating the baseline exchanges with her heavy, whipped forehand and extraordinary movement.
Time and again Pegula found herself scurrying furiously but fruitlessly into the corners, her misery compounded by the Pole’s immaculate serving and forceful returns. The New Yorker’s dismal evening was summed up midway through the second set, when she bounced her racket in frustration only for it to rebound up off the court and hit her in the face, knocking off her visor.
As Swiatek won 82% of her first serve points and made just seven unforced errors, Pegula’s best hope seemed to lie in the distant prospect of the Pole being weighed down by thoughts of reclaiming No 1. But the court and the conditions have kept all the players on their toes this past week, and although the final was played in brilliant sunshine, Swiatek’s focus remained unwavering.
“I would say [thoughts of the No 1 ranking] played a lot [on my mind] in the US Open and tournaments before,” admitted Swiatek. “But I learned my lesson, and this time I didn’t want it to have an impact on me.
“It’s hard not to think about stuff like that, but when I went on court, I knew I had to focus on different things. The conditions here, which were kind of tricky, helped me to focus just on my footwork, my shots, and that kept me busy from thinking about all of that.
“Today was like the highlight of this mentality, just being narrow with your head, only thinking about the right stuff.”
The sobering reality for Swiatek’s rivals is that, for all her brilliance last season, she won one more match in 2023 than she did last year. Once again on top of the world, she remains the woman to beat.