By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 21, 2022
Iga Swiatek becomes the World No.2 on Monday, thanks to an 11-match winning streak that took her through titles at Doha and Indian Wells. She is the youngest player to crack the Top-20 since Caroline Wozniacki hit No.2 in March of 2010.
20-year-old Swiatek is not satisfied with that accomplishment, however.
The Pole, who defeated Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-1, in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open final, says she would like to sit atop the WTA’s rankings one day.
“I mean, it's pretty surreal for now. I have to look at it and I have to check the rankings by myself and, I don't know, just see it,” Swiatek said if becoming the second Polish player to ever rise to No.2, along with Agnieszka Radwanska.
Swiatek, who says she tried hard not to think about her ranking during the week at Indian Wells – she was solely focused on her tennis – is 2204 points behind current No.1 Ash Barty in the rankings. Sounds like a perfect target for the rising talent.
“Right now it's too surreal to describe it, honestly. But for sure I want to go higher because I feel like getting the No. 1 is closer and closer,” she said. “For sure, Ash [Barty] is one of the players that I want to look at. I don't know. It's going to be a pretty cool experience to actually compete against her because I think she's, like, one of the most complete players on tour. She has shown her mental strength. I think it's going to be really exciting.”