Iga Swiatek was all smiles in South Beach as the young Pole smashed Naomi Osaka in straight sets to win the final of the Miami Open.
The incoming new World No. 1 in the WTA Rankings became just the fourth woman to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ as she won both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season.
But after her victory in Miami, Swiatek will no longer be taking part in the upcoming Credit One Charleston Open.
The defeated Osaka won’t be taking part in that tournament as well, but the former World No. 1 still has her sights set on regaining the top spot in the rankings.
Read on below as SBOTOP delivers a quick rundown of all the latest Miami Open 2022 news.
Swiatek dominates Osaka to win Miami Open final
Iga Swiatek produced a dominant performance in the final of the Miami Open as she beat former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-4 6-0.
The Miami Open 2022 odds had the 20-year-old Swiatek as one of the pre-tournament favourites, and she needed just under 80 minutes to overcome Osaka as she marked her ascent to the No. 1 ranking in style.
“I just feel really satisfied and fulfilled and also proud of myself,” Swiatek said post-match. “I feel like I have got to celebrate, because I don’t know how long I can keep up with this streak.”
The 20-year-old Pole, who will take over from the newly retired Ashleigh Barty as the new World No. 1, has now won each of her last three tournaments. She also won in Doha as well as Indian Wells prior to her victory in Miami.
Swiatek also joined an exclusive club as she became just the fourth woman after Stefi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ of winning at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
“I feel pretty privileged that I can be amongst those players, because I wouldn’t even dream of it a few years ago,” said Swiatek. “I knew it’s going to be tough playing these two tournaments in a row. I realized at the end it’s just another match and I took it step by step.”
Swiatek withdraws from Charleston Open
After her back-to-back wins in Florida and three straight finals, Swiatek has decided to withdraw from the clay season opener, the Charleston Open, to rest a minor arm injury.
“I’m very sorry to withdraw from Charleston but after a marathon of three tournaments where I played in the finals, I’ve got a harmless injury of my arm that I need to rest,” Swiatek said. “I hoped to start the clay season in Charleston there but unfortunately, I need to wait to play this great tournament with big traditions. So hopefully, see you there in the future.”
With Swiatek’s absence, Aryna Sabalenka has become the tournament’s new top seed. The 23-year-old Belarusian and current World No. 5 is a tournament wild card, and she will like her chances of winning her first title of the year.
Other top seeds competing in Charleston are Paula Badosa, Karolina Pliskova, and US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.
Osaka sets goal of regaining No. 1 ranking
Despite her crushing defeat to Swiatek in the final, Osaka is remaining optimistic that she can still get back to the top of the WTA rankings.
Now back in the Top 40 after her run to the finals in Miami, Osaka now has her sights set on regaining the World No. 1 title by the end of 2022.
“I think by next year or by the end of this year, I would love to be Top 10,” Osaka said. “By next year I would love to be the No.1. Oh, that’s a big statement. Erase that. Top 5. You know what? I’m going to set that goal. Top 1, yeah. No.1.”
Osaka has had her share of struggles in recent years, particularly in terms of her mental health, that have kept her from reaching the heights of the past. But as she showed in South Beach, Osaka in the right frame of mind is still among the best players on the WTA Tour, and she can certainly succeed in her goal to get back to the top.
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