After her thrilling match against Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open, Iga Swiatek decisively silenced the critics of women’s tennis.
At the Madrid Open, the WTA took centre stage as world No. 1 Swiatek faced reigning champion Sabalenka in a rematch of their final match from the previous year. After a thrilling match in which Swiatek won the first set 7-5, Sabalenka stormed back to win the second set 6-4 to take the game into a decider.
After a fiercely contested struggle, the world No. 1 showed tenacity by saving three championship points to win 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7). The 22-year-old won the WTA 1000 event and secured her first-ever title.
Swiatek silenced the critics of women’s tennis after her victory, defying anyone to call the sport dull following their exciting match.
Swiatek slammed the critics after the win and said: “The level of female tennis is great, better than men, or you don’t care at all? You have been there for 3 hours and 11 minutes, only three sets, but do you think about that or do you just don’t care? Because it’s amazing the level you have. Who’s going to say now that women’s tennis is boring? I think it was the most intense and crazy final I played. Out of every match [in my career], it’s hard to say, but a final makes it even more crazy.”
She concluded her discussion and said: “Thank you. Well, I think if we had to play against a man, we would lose. It’s not about that. It’s about how two players match against each other. So I think we can play great matches. You know, I’m No. 1, but I’m seeing these girls in the top 10, and we can play such intense battles. I think it’s all about what emotions it brings in people, and I think it’s not that you should compare the level of tennis, but you should compare, like, what it gives you when you watch it. I think people can take a lot from watching women’s tennis, and it can be interesting and emotional.”
Swiatek says people can take a lot from watching women’s tennis, ‘It’s about the emotions it brings in people’
“The level of female tennis actually is great, better than men, or you don't care at all? You have been 3 hours 11 minutes, only three sets, but do you think in that… pic.twitter.com/bZgWiolkBo
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 5, 2024
Iga Swiatek in 2024
LWWWWLWWWW Now ranked no.1, Iga played her last match on the 4th of May when she defeated world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in the final in Madrid to win her 21st career title.
Presently, during this year Swiatek achieved an overall 32-4 record. The Pole has won 4 titles in 2024 in Australia, Doha, Indian Wells and Madrid.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Ranked no.2, the Belarussian played her last match on the 4th of May when she lost to world no.1 Iga Swiatek 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in the final in Madrid (draw).
At present, during this year Sabalenka has managed to achieve a compiled 20-6 match record. Aryna clinched 1 title at the Australian Open. The Belarussian was the runner-up in Brisbane and Madrid.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka clashed against each other 10 times. Their record is 7-3 for Swiatek. Previously, the last time they squared off, Iga Swiatek won 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in the final in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) on the 4th of May 2024.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
