US OPEN: Swiatek gets £2.2million for winning title
Polish star Iga Swiatek produced a Perfect 10 performance as she won the US Open in straight sets.
What many had hoped would be a classic ding-dong between racket rivals Swiatek and Ons Jabeur turned into a scrappy affair until the polished Polish player prevailed in a noisy New York.
Swiatek, 21, underlined her status as the world No.1 on the women’s circuit with a 6-2 7-6 triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Incredibly, this was her tenth straight win in finals in a two-year period - all of them without dropping a set - proving she has the character and temperament for the big occasions.
Aside from the retired Ash Barty, these two players have been the most consistent aces on the WTA Tour since the start of the 2021 season.
Between them they have won more than 180 matches and Swiatek lifted a second French Open crown on Parisian clay only three months ago.
Holding your serve in this pressurised environment was always going to be key but Jabeur was broken THREE times in the opening eight games on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Swiatek, who claimed 12 of the first 14 points, clinched a one-sided first set in half an hour thanks to 11 winners and a display of outstanding returning.
The second set was disrupted by various crowd screams and interruptions and this irked both players, breaking their concentration and flow.
Though Jabeur did well to force the second-set tie-break, Swiatek held her nerve to lift a seventh title in eight months and see her bank balance improve by a whopping £2.2million in prize money.
Swiatek did change her racket before the first match point and though some might call that gamesmanship, she claimed the strings were going on her equipment.
Jabeur, 28, affectionately described herself at Wimbledon as Tunisia’s unofficial Minister of Happiness.
But a second straight Slam final loss – she was defeated by Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina in the Wimbledon showpiece on Centre Court – might see her understandably resign from that position very soon.
Swiatek, who wiped away the tears. said: “It’s always tricky to come back after winning a Slam.
“This tournament was challenging. It’s New York. It’s so loud, it’s so crazy. So many temptations in the city. It’s mind blowing and I am proud I could handle it mentally.”
Jabeur said: “I really tried but Iga didn’t make it easy for me. She deserved to win. I don’t like her very much now but it is okay.
“An amazing two weeks, backing up my final at Wimbledon. We will get that title sometime soon.”
As she was handed the £2.2million cheque in an envelope for the victory, Swiatek joked: "I'm glad it's not in cash!"
