Iga is number one: Swiatek defeats Naomi Osaka in Miami final to win Sunshine Double

Iga Swiatek (2nd) shows that not only will the rankings say that she is world number one, but that she was born for it. In a perfect match, beat Naomi Osaka (77th) 6-4, 6-0 , to lift the Miami Open. A title that adds to that of Indian Wells won last week, transforms it into fourth Open Era player to achieve the Sunshine Double .

The duel already spoke for itself. On one side Naomi Osaka, former world number one and winner of four Grand Slam tournaments, while on the other poses Iga, who after the retirement of Ashleigh Barty will reach the top of the world rankings this Monday . A confrontation that also measured for the second time two of the most formidable young players of recent times.

The only duel they had played was more than two years ago, at the 2019 Toronto Masters, when the reality was completely different. Back then Naomi was world number two and Iga 66. Today the Pole is number two and the Japanese is 77 years old. A clear sign of how far their careers have come since the pandemic.

This explains why the Miami public was divided. While many expected to see a winner of the Sunshine Double again (a name given to conquering Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season), many also expected to witness the resurrection of Osaka.

But who celebrated was Swiatek. The 20-year-old European achieves her 17th straight win of the season and his third trophy, after Doha and Indian Wells. A feat that also makes her the fourth player to win both North American Masters 1000 in a row, joining a group that until now has consisted of Steffi Graf (1994 and 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005) and Victoria Azarenka (2016) . She is also the first tennis player to win the first three WTA 1000s in one season.

Osaka, for her part, leaves without the trophy but with great emotions. She competed with the best and was only surpassed by the best player on the planet. With a service that still wreaked havoc and a powerful drive that suffocates whoever is on the other side of the net, everything seems to indicate that the Japanese has returned to her level. Tennis appreciates it, and that’s it since the pandemic that Naomi couldn’t always deliver her best version .

Perhaps the one lesson the two-time Australian Open winner needs to learn is not to lose control when things don’t go to plan. Today, after losing the first set, she was taken out of the match and couldn’t find any answers to Iga’s game, which ended up leaving her without legs or strength.

Swiatek for his part celebrates and of course, if he seems invincible this season. He always had talent, but he lacked consistency. Something that seems to have come to stay. At 20, she plays like a teacher, with intensity, flexibility and ease. It’s going to be number one on Monday, something that’s going to stick around for a long time. On tour, no one plays better than her.