Nobody expected Polish professional tennis player Iga Świątek to solidify her image in women’s tennis and earn a berth on the WTA rankings at a young age. What’s more intriguing is the caliber of opponents she faced on her path to the top.
When she defeated Simona Halep to win the French Open in 2020, she became the first tennis player from Poland to win a Grand Slam singles title. She won both the French and US Opens in 2022.
By achieving these feats at a young age, the Polish tennis player has demonstrated that age is only a number and not a factor in deciding success in one’s chosen endeavor.
Iga Swiatek’s Biography
Iga Natalia Świątek was born on May 31, 2001, in Warsaw, Poland to parents Dorota and Tomasz Swiatek. She grew up in the Polish capital with her one and only sister Agata, who is three years her senior. She is currently 23 years old.
While she has followed in the footsteps of her father, her elder sister has followed in the footsteps of their mother, an orthodontist, by venturing into the medical sector. She is a dental student at the Medical University of Lublin. Agata had an interest in sports at first, but her dream was shattered by injuries, forcing her to pursue a different path.
Interesting Facts About Iga Swiatek
1. Iga’s Older Sister Agata Influenced Her To Play Tennis
Having someone to look up to in life can make the path a little easier. Swiatek’s decision to begin playing tennis was heavily influenced by Agata. It’s hardly unexpected given that she began playing tennis, and Swiatek, the youngest, aspired to be like her sister. She also wished to compete with her and, ideally, to defeat her one day.
Unfortunately, that never happened. Because of injuries, Agata’s tennis career did not materialize. However, before retiring, she temporarily competed in the ITF Junior Circuit in 2013, when she was nearly 15 years old.
2. Her Father Tomasz Swiatek Was An Olympian
Iga Swiatek’s father was the primary motivator for his daughter’s professional choice. He was a one-time rower who competed in the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He wished for his two girls to excel as athletes and, most importantly, preferred them to compete in individual sports rather than team sports.
Agata started out as a swimmer, but after some difficulties with swimming, she switched to tennis. However, injuries prevented her from moving forward. Swiatek chose tennis and began training at Mera Warsaw at the age of 14, before moving on to Legia Warsaw.
3. As A Junior, She Won At Wimbledon
She performed admirably when competing at the junior level. Her most notable accomplishment was a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Switzerland’s Leoni Kung in the Wimbledon final. With that, she became the fourth Pole to win a junior title in London, following Alexsandra Olsza, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Urszula Radwanska.
4. After Defeating Sofia Kenin In The 2020 French Open Final, Świątek Became The First Pole To Win A Grand Slam Singles Title
Before 2020, the Pole advanced to the fourth round of the 2019 French Open, where she was defeated by Simona Halep. She bounced back strongly a year later, upsetting Halep in the fourth round before defeating Sofian Kenin in the 2020 French Open final.
She, therefore, became the first tennis player from Poland to win a Grand Slam singles title. She also won the French and US Opens in 2022, defeating Coco Gauf and Ons Jabeur, respectively.
5. She Was The Youngest Grand Slam Winner
Swiatek became the youngest tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when she won the 2020 French Open. In addition, she is the youngest women’s singles champion since Monica Seles in 1992.
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6. Świątek Earns Reasonably From Tennis And Endorsements
The net worth of Iga Świątek is reported to be approximately $12 million. Her professional career netted her a fortune.
She earned $1.9 million, $2.36 million, and $2.6 million by winning the 2020 French Open, 2022 French Open, and 2022 US Open, respectively. She currently has a career prize money of $16 million.
Świątek makes money from endorsement deals in addition to her career earnings. She is sponsored by Red Bull, Toyota Lexus, racket manufacturer Technifibre, and Rolex. She was previously a Nike athlete.
7. She Loves Of Rock Music And Animals
If you listen to her playlist, you’ll hear rock songs from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, Santana, and Coldplay. How did she go come about it? She said that her coaches frequently listen to rock music when they travel to tournaments, and this stuck with her.
Listening to older music, she believes, is beneficial and frequently elicits feelings.
Aside from music, the Polish tennis star adores animals, particularly cats. She owns a cat named Greppa and plans on getting more in the future.
8. Iga Spends Her Leisure Time with TV Series and Books
When she is not on the court playing tennis or getting ready for a tournament, she spends her leisure time watching TV series or reading books. She loves watching Mad Men, a series she finds interesting and educational.
If she must emersed herself in books, it would be historical books.
9. Rafael Nadal Is Her Favorite Tennis Player
Nadal has been her favorite tennis player for a long time. She said she has great admiration for him as an athlete and for his fighting spirit. According to her, he is an ideal sportsman worthy of emulation.
10. She Is A Bit Above Average In Height
The right-handed tennis player doesn’t have a disappointing height. She is 5 feet 9 inches (1.76m) tall. And has a body weight of 62kg (137lbs).
11. Her Current Singles Ranking
She had a fantastic run in 2020 and 2022. Her performances at major tennis tournaments earned her a higher ranking from 2022 to 2023. She is now ranked first in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
12. Honors And Awards
- WTA Fan Favorite Shot of the Year (2019)
- WTA Most Improved Player (2020)
- WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player (2020)
- WTA Player of the Year (2022)
- European Sportsperson of the Year (2022)
- Polish Sports Personality of the Year (2023)
Complete profile of Iga Świątek
Iga Świątek | |
---|---|
Full Name | Iga Natalia Świątek |
Date of Birth | 31 May 2001 |
Age | 23 years |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Birth place | Warsaw, Poland |
Nationality | Polish |
Profession | Professional Tennis player |
Father | Tomasz Świątek |
Mother | Dorota Świątek |
Siblings | Agata Świątek |
Marital Status | Single |
Spouse/Partner | NA |
Boyfriend | NA |
Kids | NA |
Religion | Christian |
Estimated Net Worth: | NA |
Source of net worth | Tennis career |
Height | Feet- 5ft 9in Meters- 1.76m Centimeters- 176cm |
Weight | 62kg (137lbs) |
Eye color | Brown |
Hair color | Brown |
Social media | Instagram |
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