Iga Swiatek has faced some fearsome opponents in recent years and has had to see off some tough challenges for her number-one spot, but she has never faced Serena Williams.
In fact, the Polish player is the first WTA number one to never have played Williams since Tracy Austin, who retired in 1994. Austin's retirement came just one year after Williams began her star-studded career that ended in 2022 with 23 Grand Slam titles.
Swiatek has ended the last two seasons at the top of the WTA Rankings, and the 22-year-old has already notched some big titles in her short career so far. Since 2020, the Polish player has won four Grand Slams, including three Roland Garros titles in the last four seasons.
When Swiatek started her rise up the WTA standings, Williams' career was on the downturn. The American great's last Grand Slam win came in 2017 when she triumphed at the Australian Open, and she reached later finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019.
However, Williams would never have crossed paths on the court with Swiatek as the Polish player only entered her first career Grand Slam in 2019 - turning professional at a time when Serena was struggling with form and injuries.
The recent statistic is a testament to Williams' long-standing career in tennis that lasted for nearly two decades. Throughout that time, she faced many tough opponents, including her sister Venus Williams, who regularly challenged her for major titles and the WTA number one spot.
Still competing now, Swiatek will look to consolidate her number one spot in the rankings, beginning at the 2024 Australian Open, which starts on January 14.
However, regardless of how the 22-year-old performs in Melbourne, she is still guaranteed to hold onto the number one spot after a WTA rule added points earned from tournaments late in 2023.
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