Iga Świątek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Iga Świątek

Świątek at the 2023 US Open
Country (sports)	Poland
Residence	Raszyn, Poland
Born	(2001-05-31) 31 May 2001 (age 24) Warsaw, Poland
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	2016
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Wim Fissette (October 2024 – present)
Prize money	US $33,742,891 8th in all-time rankings
Official website	igaswiatek.pl
Singles
Career record	346–76
Career titles	22
Highest ranking	No. 1 (4 April 2022)
Current ranking	No. 2 (21 October 2024)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (2022, 2025)
French Open	W (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Wimbledon	QF (2023)
US Open	W (2022)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2023)
Olympic Games	Bronze (2024)
Doubles
Career record	27–14
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 29 (14 February 2022)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	F (2021)
US Open	2R (2019)
Mixed doubles
Career record	9–5
Career titles	0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	QF (2020)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2020)
Team competitions
BJK Cup	SF (2024)
Signature
Medal record Women's tennis Representing  Poland Olympic Games Bronze 2024 Paris Singles Representing  Mixed-NOCs Youth Olympic Games Gold 2018 Buenos Aires Doubles

Iga Natalia Świątek (born May 31, 2001) is a professional tennis player from Poland. She has been ranked as the world's number one female singles player by the WTA. Iga held this top spot for 125 weeks, which is the seventh-longest time ever! She has won 22 singles titles on the WTA Tour. This includes five major titles: four at the French Open and one at the US Open. She also won the 2023 WTA Finals and ten big WTA 1000 tournaments. Iga is the only Polish player to win a major singles title.

As a junior player, Iga won the 2018 French Open girls' doubles title and the 2018 Wimbledon girls' singles title. She started playing regularly on the WTA Tour in 2019. By age 18, she was in the top 50 players. In 2020, Iga won her first major title at the French Open. She played incredibly well, losing very few games in any match. In May 2021, she entered the top ten WTA rankings for the first time.

In 2022, Iga became super dominant with a 37-match winning streak. This was the longest streak on the WTA Tour in the 21st century! During this time, she became the world's number one player. With major wins at the French and US Opens, she ended 2022 as the best player. She also finished 2023 as year-end No. 1 after winning the French Open again and the WTA Finals. In 2024, she won the French Open for the third time in a row. Iga has won the French Open title in four of her six appearances there. She has never lost a match before the fourth round at this tournament.

Iga Świątek has an all-court playing style. She won the WTA Fan Favorite Shot of the Year in 2019 for a clever drop shot. In 2020, fans voted her the WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year. In 2023, she was named L'Équipe Champion of Champions and Polish Sports Personality of the Year. She was also included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Iga's Early Life and Family Background

Iga Świątek was born on May 31, 2001, in Warsaw, Poland. Her parents are Dorota and Tomasz Świątek. Her father, Tomasz, was a rower who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Her mother, Dorota, is an orthodontist. Iga has an older sister, Agata, who is about three years older and is a dentist.

Iga's father wanted his daughters to become competitive athletes. He preferred individual sports over team sports. Agata first tried swimming but then switched to tennis. She played briefly as a junior but stopped due to injuries. Iga followed her sister into tennis. She wanted to be like Agata and also wanted to beat her! Iga trained at Mera Warsaw and later at Legia Warsaw.

Iga's Junior Tennis Career

Świątek with the 2018 Wimbledon junior champion's trophy

Iga reached a high ranking of No. 5 as a junior player. She started playing in junior tournaments in 2015. At age 13, she won two low-level titles. By the end of that year, she was playing in higher-level events. In 2016, Iga made her junior Grand Slam debut at the French Open. She reached the quarterfinals in both singles and doubles. She then won a big junior title at the Canadian Open.

Iga had a strong start to 2017. She won both singles and doubles titles at the Traralgon Junior International. At the Australian Open, she reached her first major doubles final. After the French Open, she had ankle surgery and was out for seven months.

In 2018, Iga had her best junior season, even though she played in only two Grand Slams. She returned at the French Open and reached the singles semifinals. In doubles, she won her first junior major title with Caty McNally. They won the final against a Japanese team.

At Wimbledon, Iga played only singles. She was unseeded but beat the top seed in the first round. After that, she didn't lose another set and won the championship. This was her only junior major singles title. Iga then teamed up with Kaja Juvan for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. They won the gold medal in doubles. This was the end of her junior career.

Iga's Professional Tennis Journey

2016–2018: Starting Out on the ITF Circuit

Świątek at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

Iga started playing on the ITF Women's Circuit in 2016. She won all seven singles finals she reached. Her first three titles came when she was 15 years old. After winning junior Wimbledon in July 2018, she won two more big titles in Hungary and Switzerland. These wins helped her enter the top 200 players for the first time at age 17.

2019: First WTA Final and Top 50 Ranking

Świątek at the 2019 Prague Open

In 2019, Iga started playing only on the main WTA Tour. She made her first major main draw at the Australian Open. Her big breakthrough came at the Ladies Open Lugano. She reached her first WTA final there. She beat a top 50 player for the first time. Her amazing drop shot in the semifinals was voted the 2019 WTA Shot of the Year. She also entered the top 100 players at age 17. Iga reached the fourth round at the French Open. She beat a top 20 player before losing to the defending champion. She finished the year at No. 61 after foot surgery.

2020: French Open Champion and Top 20

Iga started 2020 by reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open. She then won a match at the Qatar Open before the tour stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When play resumed, she reached the third round at the US Open.

At the French Open in September, Iga was ranked No. 54. But she went on to win her first WTA title! She beat the 2019 runner-up in the first round. Her biggest win was against the top seed and world No. 2, Simona Halep. Iga won the final against world No. 6, Sofia Kenin. She became the first Polish player to win a major singles title. She was also the youngest French Open champion since 1992. Iga won the title without losing a single set! She rose to No. 17 in the world. She also reached the doubles semifinals with Nicole Melichar.

2021: Italian Open Champion and Top 10

Świątek at the 2021 French Open

At the Australian Open, Iga reached the fourth round. She then won her first WTA Tour title at the Adelaide International without losing a set. This put her in the top 15 players. Iga won her first WTA 1000 title at the Italian Open. She beat Karolína Plíšková in just 46 minutes, not losing a single game! This amazing win moved her into the top 10 in the world, at No. 9.

At the French Open, Iga was the defending champion. She won 22 straight sets at the tournament before losing in the quarterfinals. In doubles, she reached the final with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She also reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 42. Iga reached the second week of all four major championships in 2021. She also qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time.

2022: World No. 1 and Two Major Titles

Iga started 2022 by reaching the semifinals at the Adelaide International and Australian Open. After one loss, Iga won the next six tournaments she played! These included the Qatar Ladies Open, Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Stuttgart Open, and Italian Open. She also won her second major title at the French Open. She then became the world No. 1. She also completed the "Sunshine Double" (winning Indian Wells and Miami). Her winning streak reached 37 matches, the longest in the 21st century!

Iga then won her third major title at the US Open. She beat Ons Jabeur in the final. She was the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win both the French Open and US Open in the same year. Iga won her eighth title of the year at the San Diego Open. She finished 2022 as the year-end No. 1 player. She had an amazing 67 wins and only 9 losses.

2023: French Open and WTA Finals Champion

Iga started 2023 as world No. 1 for over 40 weeks. She reached the semifinals at the United Cup. At the Australian Open, she lost in the fourth round. She won her first tournament of the year at the Qatar Ladies Open, losing only five games in total.

Świątek at the 2023 French Open

On clay, she successfully defended her Stuttgart Open title. She then won her fourth major title at the French Open, beating Karolína Muchová in the final. After reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, she won her home tournament at the Poland Open.

At the US Open, Iga lost in the fourth round. This ended her 75-week reign as world No. 1. This was the third-longest streak for a player's first time at No. 1. However, she then won the China Open. At the WTA Finals, she won the title without losing a set. She became the first player to do this since Serena Williams in 2012. She also lost the fewest games in the tournament's history for this format. Winning the WTA Finals helped her get back to the No. 1 ranking and finish the year as No. 1 for the second year in a row.

2024: French Open Title and Olympic Bronze

Iga started 2024 at the United Cup, helping Team Poland reach the final. She won all her singles matches and was named MVP. At the Australian Open, her 18-match winning streak ended in the third round. She still kept her world No. 1 ranking.

In February, Iga won the Qatar Ladies Open for the third time in a row. She became the first player to win three straight titles at the same hardcourt tournament since Serena Williams in 2015. In March, Iga won the Indian Wells Open for the second time. This was her 19th career title. In Miami, she got her 100th WTA 1000 match win.

In April, Iga reached her 100th week as world No. 1, moving to ninth place all-time. At the Madrid Open, she played a long, exciting final against Aryna Sabalenka. Iga saved three championship points and won her 20th career title. She called it the "most intense and crazy final" she had played.

In May, Iga won the Italian Open again, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. This was her 21st title, making her the most successful Polish tennis player ever. It was also her tenth WTA 1000 title. She became the third female player to win both Madrid and Rome in the same year.

Iga won the 2024 French Open, her third French Open title in a row and fourth overall. She lost only one set in the tournament. She became the third player in history to win three consecutive French Open titles.

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Iga won a bronze medal in singles. This was her first loss in Paris after a very long undefeated run. She became the first Polish player to win an Olympic medal in tennis.

Iga played at the WTA Finals as the No. 2 seed. She finished the year as the ITF World Champion for 2024.

2025: United Cup Final

Iga started 2025 representing Team Poland at the United Cup. Her team reached the final, where they lost to Team United States. Iga won most of her singles matches and also won both of her mixed doubles matches. At the 2025 Australian Open, Iga reached her first semifinal there since 2022.

Representing Poland

Junior Team Competitions

Świątek (left) and Kaja Juvan, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics gold medallists in girls' doubles

Iga played for Poland in the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals for girls aged 14 and under in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, she helped Poland win the 16-and-under Junior Fed Cup title. They beat the United States 2–1 in the final. Iga won both her singles and doubles matches in that final. Her last junior event was the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games. She won the gold medal in doubles with Kaja Juvan.

Billie Jean King Cup

Iga made her senior Billie Jean King Cup debut in 2018. She has a strong record of 9 wins and 3 losses in the Fed Cup. In 2024, Iga helped Poland reach the semifinals of the BJK Cup Finals. This was the first time in their nation's history they reached the semifinals.

Tennis Rivalries

Iga Świątek vs. Aryna Sabalenka

Iga and Aryna Sabalenka have played 12 times since 2021. Iga leads their matches 8–4. Their rivalry is considered one of the most exciting in tennis. Their match at the 2024 Madrid Open final was especially praised. Iga won in three sets after more than three hours of play, saving three championship points!

Iga Świątek vs. Coco Gauff

Iga and Coco Gauff have played 14 times since 2021. Iga leads their matches 11–3. They have played three times at major tournaments, and Iga won all of them in straight sets. These include the 2022 French Open final and semifinals at the 2023 and 2024 French Opens.

Iga Świątek vs. Jessica Pegula

Iga and Jessica Pegula have played 10 times since 2019. Iga leads their matches 6–4.

Iga's Playing Style

Świątek hitting a backhand at the 2019 Prague Open

Iga Świątek plays an aggressive, all-court style of tennis. She uses many different shots. Her game focuses on offense, meaning she hits many winners. She also plays with control, building points carefully until she can hit a winning shot. At the 2020 French Open, she hit more winners than errors in all her matches.

Tennis experts describe Iga's game as:

• Her ability to slide on the court, like Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic.
• Her fast speed when moving to the net.
• The power and topspin in her shots, similar to her idol Rafael Nadal.
• Her strong mental game, which she works on with a sports psychologist.

Her forehand and backhand shots are very powerful. Her forehand has a lot of topspin. At the 2020 French Open, her average forehand speed was 73 mph, almost as fast as male players! Some of her forehands reached 79 mph, the fastest of any female player there. Her backhand speed also peaked at 76 mph, the fastest among female players at that French Open. Because she is so dominant on clay courts, Iga is often called the "Queen of Clay."

Iga likes to come to the net and has good volleying skills from her doubles experience. She has an accurate first serve, which can reach 123 mph. This helps her control the point from the start. She also uses effective kick serves and slice serves. In earlier years, she often used a drop shot, even winning the 2019 WTA Shot of the Year with one.

Her strengths also include her amazing speed, movement, and court coverage. She has detailed footwork and builds points smartly. Her favorite surface is clay, but she has found success on all types of courts. Her ability to slide on clay, hard, and grass courts helps her a lot.

In 2020, fans voted Iga the WTA Fan Favorite Awards#Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year.

"Iga's Bakery"

Iga is known for winning sets with a score of 6–0 (called a "bagel") or 6–1 (called a "breadstick"). This has led to the fun term "Iga's Bakery" in tennis! By May 2024, about 40% of her matches included a 6–0 or 6–1 set. She has even won a "double bagel" (6–0, 6–0) eight times in her career!

Iga's Coaching Team

Iga has worked with several coaches and trainers. Her first main coach was Michał Kaznowski. She also works with a sports psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, and a fitness trainer, Maciej Ryszczuk.

From 2021 to 2024, Iga was coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski. In October 2024, she announced that Wim Fissette would be her new coach.

Sponsors and Partnerships

Iga is sponsored by many well-known companies. Since March 2023, she has been sponsored by On for her clothing and shoes. She is the first female tennis player to be sponsored by them. Before that, she was sponsored by Asics and Nike.

Iga has also had partnerships with Red Bull, Xiaomi, and Lexus. From 2021 to 2024, her main partner was PZU, a big Polish insurance company. In 2021, she signed a deal with Tecnifibre for her tennis racquets. After she won the 2022 French Open with a Tecnifibre racquet, the company even changed its name to "Swiateknifibre" for a week to celebrate! She also has a contract with Rolex.

After winning the 2022 US Open, Iga started being represented by IMG. In 2023, she became a global ambassador for the Polish sports drink Oshee. She even has her own drink flavor! She also partnered with Porsche and VISA in 2023. In April 2024, Iga became a brand ambassador for Lancôme.

Charity Work and Helping Others

Iga Świątek is very involved in charity work. Since 2021, she has supported The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. She has auctioned off her winning tennis racquets and other items to raise money. For example, her racquet from her first French Open final sold for over 131,000 Polish złoty (about $33,000 USD). The money helped buy new medical equipment for children. In 2023, her racquet from her 2022 US Open and French Open wins sold for over 300,000 Polish złoty (about $75,000 USD). This money went to help treat sepsis.

Iga and her team also take part in the Noble Gift project. This project helps families who are facing financial difficulties during Christmas. She has also donated items for auctions to help SOS Children's Villages-Poland. After winning her second French Open, she promised to help upgrade her old elementary school's sports facilities.

Supporting Mental Health Awareness

Iga is a big supporter of mental health awareness. On October 10, 2021, she donated $50,000 of her prize money to support World Mental Health Day. She believes that mental toughness is important in sports and in life. She encourages others to seek help if they need it.

On October 9, 2022, Iga announced she would donate all her prize money from the Ostrava Open (€58,032) to Polish non-profit organizations for World Mental Health Day. She said, "I hope this money can help a lot of people and make some change." On October 12, 2023, Iga donated 300,000 PLN (about $70,000 USD) to UNICEF Poland. This money helps mental health efforts in Poland and around the world.

Support for Ukraine

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iga has often worn ribbons in Ukrainian colors. She has publicly shown her support for Ukraine in her speeches.

On July 23, 2022, Iga hosted a charity tennis event in Kraków, Poland. The event raised money for children and teenagers affected by the war in Ukraine. It included a mixed doubles match and a singles match between Iga and Agnieszka Radwańska. Ukrainian football star Andriy Shevchenko was a special guest. The event raised over 2.5 million Polish złoty (over €500,000). The money went to different charities helping Ukraine.

Iga also participated in the "Tennis Plays for Peace" exhibition. All the money raised went to a non-profit organization helping Ukraine. In January 2023, Iga announced that her special T-shirts would be sold to raise funds for children in Ukraine. She also auctioned off her US Open winning gear and French Open shoes, with all proceeds going to UNICEF.

Iga's Personal Life

Iga Świątek lives in Raszyn, Poland. She loves to read books. She has said that reading helps her relax between tennis matches.

Iga's Career Highlights

Iga has achieved incredible success in her career.

• She has won 5 major singles titles: 4 at the French Open and 1 at the US Open.
• She won the 2023 WTA Finals.
• She earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
• She was ranked world No. 1 for a total of 125 weeks.
• She had a 37-match winning streak in 2022, the longest in the 21st century.
• She is the youngest woman to complete the "Sunshine Double" (winning Indian Wells and Miami) at age 20.
• She is the youngest player (23 years and 8 days) to win four French Open women's singles titles.

Awards and Recognition

Iga has received many awards for her achievements:

• 2019: WTA Fan Favorite Shot of the Year
• 2020: WTA Most Improved Player, WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player, Gold Cross of Merit (Poland), European Sportswoman of the Year
• 2022: Chris Evert WTA World No. 1 Trophy, WTA Player of the Year, ITF World Champion, WTA Fan Favourite Shot of the Year, European Sportsperson of the Year, Polish Sports Personality of the Year
• 2023: L'Équipe Champion of Champions, WTA Player of the Year, Polish Sports Personality of the Year
• 2024: ITF World Champion

Iga has also been recognized by major publications:

• 2022 & 2023: Listed in Forbes 30 Under 30-Europe
• 2022: Ranked 5th on Forbes World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes
• 2023: Listed in Time 100 Most Influential People
• 2023: Ranked 1st on Forbes World's Highest-Paid Female Athletes

Images for kids

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  Świątek at the 2023 US Open

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  Świątek with the 2018 Wimbledon junior champion's trophy

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  Świątek at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics

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  Świątek at the 2019 Prague Open

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  Świątek at the 2021 French Open

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  Świątek at the 2023 French Open

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  Świątek hitting a backhand at the 2019 Prague Open

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  Świątek practicing with her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski at the 2023 US Open

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  Świątek (left) and Kaja Juvan, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics gold medallists in girls' doubles

See also

In Spanish: Iga Świątek para niños