Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur entered Arthur Ashe Stadium as the top two players in the world, having outperformed the rest of the field this year. However, at the end of the game, the reality was much simpler. Jabeur gave everything she could, forcing her way back into the match on the verge of a crushing defeat, but Swiatek remains the only dominant force in the sport.
After navigating her various struggles through the summer and tournament, the 21-year-old played totally free with the title on the line and then held off an incredible late surge from Jabeur to win the US Open for the first time in her career with a tense, quality 6-2, 7-6 (5) win.
With her win, Swiatek becomes the first woman to win two Grand Slam titles in a year since Angelique Kerber in 2016, having won the French Open earlier in the season. The Pole is now fourth among active players for Grand Slam totals with three players total. She has now accumulated 10,365 ranking points, an accolade only equaled by Serena Williams since 2013.
Since her 37-game, six-tournament winning streak ended at the hands of Alizé Cornet in the third round at Wimbledon, it has taken some effort for Swiatek to regain her hold on the tour. She had arrived in New York that summer with a 6-4 record. But when it came down to it in New York, she was ready. Swiatek bounced back twice from behind to trail 4-2 to Aryna Sabalenka in the deciding set of their semifinal.
As always with Swiatek in finals, she initially played freely, although the title was at stake. It was immediately clear that this was a different level than anything she had produced earlier in the tournament.
Iga Swiatek fires a fierce forehand in the second set tiebreak against Ons Jabeur. Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today Sports
She was perceptive, roaming within the baseline and attacking relentlessly and with all her might in a way she hadn’t since the last game of the French Open final. Swiatek opened with an easy service hold and hit a backhand down the line to win it, and then she dived into Jabeur at love and quickly built a 3-0 lead.
Swiatek’s searing start first brought out the very best in Jabeur, who responded with a blistering four-winner second leg to earn the break. But the pressure Swiatek applied to the Wimbledon runners-up was unrelenting and suffocating.
Thanks to Swiatek’s defence, space was always tight for the Tunisian when she had the upper hand, but she was also constantly under pressure. Swiatek attacked from both wings and all parts of the courtyard with their destructive weapons.
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She forced her 28-year-old opponent to consistently play at her limit and the Tunisian began making mistakes as she tried to push her best level. But Jabeur never stopped fighting. She was down 2-6, 0-3, 15-40 but kept her head high. She soon found big serves and growing confidence in her forehand. She then began to concern herself with Swiatek’s service plays and put pressure on her second serve. Little by little, her forehand started to land her punches, pushing Swiatek back, and she was soon getting on her head.
After pulling herself from the abyss, Jabeur had her chances throughout the second set. She scored three break points at 4-4 as her ghost brought Arthur Ashe Stadium to full voice, including profuse screams during the points.
Ons Jabeur from Salve disappointing a ball away. Photo: Justin Lane/EPA
After the momentum shifted again and Swiatek stabilized, she forced a match point on Jabeur’s serve at 6-5. Jabeur put it out with a first serve and a winning inside-out forehand, and when she held she drew a standing ovation from the crowd. In the end, Swiatek was more commanding in the tie-break and after leading 5-4 on her serve, Jabeur gave up mistakes under pressure to finally let go.
There are many ways to underline this incredible season Swiatek is enjoying, which she started ninth in the world. She’s 55-7 through the season, 8-1 against top 10 players, her only loss to her predecessor at No. 1, Ash Barty.
Swiatek has won 10 straight finals, winning all 20 sets and smothering opponents just like she did here. She had conceded a total of 32 goals in the previous nine finals, averaging 3.6 goals. Jabeur pushed her far harder than anyone, yet the champion still had the composure to endure.
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Hewett and Reid’s winning streak at Flushing Meadows ends
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Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid’s winning streak in wheelchair doubles at the US Open ended in a final loss to Martin De La Puente and Nicolas Peifer. Hewett and Reid had won the title every year since 2017 but failed to make it six straight, losing to Spaniard De La Puente and Frenchman Peifer 4-6, 7-5 (10-6). Reid played despite being forced to retire his first-round singles match against De La Puente through injury. Hewett has another shot at silver in Sunday’s men’s singles final when he will attempt to stop Japan’s Shingo Kunieda from completing the calendar Grand Slam. Top-seeded Ben Bentram became the inaugural Wheelchair Grand Slam champion in boys’ singles, defeating fellow British player Dahnon Ward 6-4, 6-1. PA media
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