That’s all for tonight. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to read Tumaini Carayol’s full match report here.
Swiatek is asked what being the first US Open champion from Poland means to her and to her country. “Well, I don’t know,” she says. “I gotta come back home and check, but I’m pretty sure that it’s a lot. I can even hear what’s going on right now on the stadium. Thank you, guys.”
She continues: “I think especially right now when we got to stay united and really support ourselves and stay together, I’m pretty happy that I can kind of unite people with our sport. I’m proud that tennis is getting more and more popular at home. I know that I’m repeating basically what Ons said. You’re such an inspiration as well, but yeah, we are trying to do our best to be good people and to be good examples.”
“I’m just not expecting a lot, especially before this tournament,” Swiatek says. “It was such challenging time, coming back after winning a grand slam. It’s always tricky, even though Roland Garros was the second one. So I really needed to stay composed and focus on the goals. And for sure this tournament was a really challenging goal. Because, yeah, it’s New York. It’s so loud, it’s so crazy. So many temptations in the city, so many people I’ve met who are so inspiring. It’s really mind-blowing for me. And I’m so proud that I could handle it mentally.
“And Ons, I mean, such an amazing tournament, such an amazing season. I know that this is already a pretty nice rivalry and we’re gonna have many more and I’m pretty sure you’re gonna win some of them.”
“I really tried, but Iga didn’t make it easy for me,” Jabeur says during the trophy ceremony. “She deserved to win today. I don’t like her very much right now, but it’s OK. Just an amazing two weeks, to be honest with you, backing up my final in Wimbledon. I know I’m gonna keep working hard and we’ll get that title sometime soon.”
Asked what it means to be a first-time African finalist and to be continually making history with trail-blazing runs at majors, Jabeur says: “It really means a lot. I try to push myself to do more. Getting the major is one of the goals and hopefully I can inspire more and more generations. That’s the goal.”
She adds: “I hope I can inspire more and more and this is just the beginning of so many things.”
Swiatek wins 6-2, 7-6 (5) to earn first US Open title!
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 7-6 (5) Jabeur
Both players have tensed up a bit on their serve in this breaker so far. Jabeur wins the next point on her serve, then watches Swiates drop consecutive points on her serve with unforced errors for the baseline. Jabeur now serving at 5-4 with the set on her racket ... but Swiatek responds with a blistering forehand winner off her back foot for 5-all. Back on serve. Jabeur then nets a forehand early in a baseline rally, giving Swiatek a second match point. And this time she converts it when Jabeur sends a forehand sailing past the baseline early in a rally.
Swiatek falls on her back and covers her face in triumph, a three-time grand slam champion at 21 years old. She becomes only the second woman in the Open era to win all three of her first three grand slam finals in straight sets after Lindsay Davenport.
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Second-set tiebreaker: Swiatek 4-2 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Jabeur immediately grabs a minibreak with a backhand winner to cap a baseline rally, but Swiatek rattles off back-to-back winners on Jabeur’s serve to nose ahead. Jabeur wins the next point on Swiatek’s serve and we’re on serve at 2-all, but Swiatek wins the next two points to go a minibreak up at 4-2 as the players change ends.
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 6-6 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur quickly goes down love-30 on her serve and Swiatek is again two points from the title. Swiatek follows with a couple of unforced errors for 30-all, but Jabeur overcooks a forehand for 30-40. Championship point for Swiatek, but she sends a forehand from the baseline flying to let Jabeur off the hook. Jabeur then follows with a 108mph service winner and another unforced error to hold and force a tiebreaker.
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Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 6-5 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek coasts to a mostly straightforward hold, winning a crowd-pleasing 15-stroke rally that covers every inch of the court along the way. Chants of “I-ga! I-ga! I-ga!” come down from the stands during the changeover. Swiatek is one game from the title while Jabeur will look to force a second-set tiebreaker.
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 5-5 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Serving at 15-all, Jabeur sends a forehand sailing past the baseline for 15-30. Two points from defeat, Jabeur batters her opponent back with forehands until she blinks for 30-all, then rattles off two quick points to hold.
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 5-4 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek goes down love-15 on her serve after missing and overhead, then 15-30 after Jabeur hits a hair-trigger forehand volley winner at the net that ignites the crowd. Gut-check moment for the world No 1. And Swiatek sends a forehand flying on the sixth stroke of a baseline rally for 15-40 and double break point. Jabeur squanders the first with an overcooked forehand, then sends a backhand into the net for deuce. From there Swiatek pounds a 109mph unreturnable body serve, but follows with her second double fault of the match for a second deuce. Jabeur then earns a third break point, but follows with a pair of unforced errors, allowing Swiatek to escape with the hold after a 101mph unreturnable serve down the middle. Jabeur, who drops to 3-for-9 on break-point chances, will serve to stay in the tournament after the change of ends.
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 4-4 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur races out to 30-love with a couple of unreturnable serves before Swiatek pushes it to 30-all. A pressure moment for the Tunisian but she answers the call, rattling off two quick points to hold for 4-all.
Jabeur breaks in seventh game of second set!
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 4-3 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Serving at 15-love, Swiatek double-faults for only the first time today, then loses the next two points for 15-40. She’s able to save both break points for deuce, but Jabeur wins the next two on extended baseline rallies to break back! There’s life in this match yet.
Swiatek breaks in sixth game of second set!
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 4-2 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
With Jabeur serving at 30-15, Swiatek pounces on a 79mph second serve for a superb backhand return winner, then follows with another backhand winner from the baseline for 30-40 and break point. She’s unable to convert it, sending a forehand sailing past the baseline for deuce, but follows with an inside-out forehand winner for a second break-point chance. And this time she gets it! Swiatek is back in front and just two games away from her third grand slam title.
Jabeur breaks in fifth game of second set!
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 3-2 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
At 15-all on Swiatek’s serve, Jabeur hits a forehand winner for 15-30. She then stymies Swiatek with a well-struck backhand for 15-40 and two break-point chances. But she converts on the first! We’re back on serve in the second set and Jabeur apparently back in business, having won nine of the last 11 points. Now can she consolidate?
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 3-1 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur goes down 15-30 on her serve with her 14th and 15th unforced errors. Then her 16th, a killer: double-faulting to go 15-40 and double break point down. This feels like the match. But Jabeur digs deep. She saves the first with a 94mph unreturnable, then the second with a forehand winner early in the point for deuce. Swiatek stakes a third break point, but Jabeur rattles off three staccato points from there to hold and get on the board in the second set.
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 3-0 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
A glimmer of hope for Jabeur, who forces Swiatek to 30-all on her serve. But Swiatek holds easily from there, closing out the hold with a sensational backhand winner from far outside the court that catches just enough of the line. An absolute must-hold service game for Jabeur coming up after the changeover.
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Swiatek breaks in second game of second set!
Second set: *Swiatek 6-2, 2-0 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur won only 20% of her first-serve points in the first set. If nothing else, that’s got to change if she has any hope of turning this match around. More pressure, however, as she goes down 15-30 on her serve, but an overcooked forehand from the baseline by Swiatek makes it 30-all. From there Jabeur attempts a drop shot from that baseline that misses badly and throws her racket to the ground in disgust. A break-point chance for Swiatek and Jabeur saves it for deuce. Swiatek earns a second chance moments later and this time she capitalizes, passing an onrushing Jabeur with a surgical backhand that paints the baseline and spinning toward her box with an upraised fist.
Second set: Swiatek 6-2, 1-0 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
A hint of pressure for Swiatek, who is forced to 30-all then deuce on her serve. But she answers with her 12th and 13th winners to escape with the hold. Swiatek missed more first serves in this game (three) than she did in the entire first set (two). No matter.
Swiatek wins first set, 6-2!
Swiatek breaks in eighth game of first set!
First set: Swiatek 6-2 Jabeur
Jabeur finds herself in a heap of trouble, going down love-30 on her serve, then 15-40 and double set point. But Swiatek needs only one for them, as Jabeur accommodates with her eighth unforced error. First set to the world No 1 after a brisk half hour.
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First set: Swiatek 5-2 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek backs up the break with an uncomplicated hold of serve, adding two more winners to her tally. She’s gotten 19 of 21 of her first serves in today.
Swiatek breaks in sixth game of first set!
First set: *Swiatek 4-2 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur wins the first point of the service game but quickly goes down 15-40 and double break point. Swiatek wastes the first of them but seizes on the second, pounding her ninth winner of the day (against seven unforced errors) to nose back ahead.
Jabeur breaks in fifth game of first set!
First set: Swiatek 3-2 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek wins the first point with a highlight-reel backhand volley winner at the net. But Jabeur, who seemingly failed to answer the bell for today’s final and managed to win no more than two points in the opening three games, fires back with her second, third and fourth winners of the match for 15-40 and double break point. Swiatek saves the first, but Jabeur strikes on the second with a forehand winner from the baseline. We’re back on serve in the opener!
First set: *Swiatek 3-1 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
Jabeur badly needs a straightforward hold to settle into this match. She races out to 40-love on a couple of Swiatek unforced errors early in rallies and a forehand winner at the net, before double-faulting and misfiring on the baseline for 40-30. From there another Swiatek unforced error bails her out and she’s finally on the scoreboard.
First set: Swiatek 3-0 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek opens her second service game with a forehand winner before missing on a backhand for 15-all, gifting Jabeur her second point of the afternoon. Swiatek follows with her fourth and fifth winners, then closes out the hold with an 84mph second serve that Jabeur can’t get back into play.
Swiatek breaks in second game of first set!
First set: *Swiatek 2-0 Jabeur (*denotes next server)
A scratchy start for Jabeur, who is not moving well at all to start. She falls behind love-30 after double-faulting, then love-40 and triple break point down with a misfire from the baseline. The No 5 seed follows with unforced error from the baseline and is broken at love in her opening service game. Not great!
First set: Swiatek 1-0 Jabeur* (*denotes next server)
The world No 1 and top seed wins three quick points to open the match including a 102mph ace down the middle. She misses a volley on her first net approach on the next point, but closes out the stress-free hold immediately after with a crisp backhand winner to close out a 15-stroke rally.
But enough of the juniors: it’s time for the today’s feature attraction. Micaela Bryan, the daughter of former doubles world No 1 Bob Bryan, has just regaled the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with a performance of America the Beautiful. Swiatek and Jabeur have given their pre-match tunnel interviews and emerged on to the court.
They meet chair umpire Louise Engzell at the net for the coin toss, which Jabeur wins and elects to return first. The players are now in the warm-up. It’s a gorgeous 82F (28C) sunny day in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. We should be under way shortly.
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Carlos Alcaraz isn’t the only Spanish teenager making noise in New York. Martin Landaluce, a 16-year-old from Madrid, has just won the US Open boys’ singles title with a 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-2 win over Belgium’s Gilles Arnaud Bailly before a jam-packed crowd on Court 11.
The No 5 seed missed a golden opportunity to serve for the championship in the second set, letting the second-seeded Bailly off the hook from a 5-5, 15-40 bind on his serve. But he broke the Belgian in his first two service games of the decider and coasted through the finish line after 2hr 13min.
Landaluce’s win makes it a clean sweep for juniors from Rafael Nadal’s academy at this year’s US Open. Alex Eala, who also trains at the Mallorca club, won the girls’ title earlier today, becoming the first Filipino to win any major singles championship.
The 21-year-old Swiatek is the first No 1 seed to reach the US Open women’s final since Serena Williams in 2014. She’s also the first woman to reach the Roland Garros and US Open finals in the same season since Serena one year earlier. This is her third grand slam final, having previously lifted the French Open titles in 2020 and 2022.
Jabeur is the first woman to reach the final at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same season since Serena in 2019. The 28-year-old Tunisian win is one of four African woman in history to reach a major final and first in the Open era. The other three were South Africans Irene Peacock (1927 Roland Garros), Renee Schuurman (1959 Australian Open) and Sandra Reynolds (1960 Wimbledon), each of whom came up short in the final.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Flushing Meadows for today’s US Open women’s final. We’ve got a cracker of a match in store between the two best players in the world today: Iga Swiatek, the world No 1 and top-seeded Pole who’s already won six titles this year, and Ons Jabeur, the Wimbledon runner-up and Madrid champion who has reached five finals in all in 2022.
Our Tumaini Carayol has more on the stylistic matchup on hand:
They play different styles, but a common quality is that they have built varied, sustainable games that afford them a number of different options, making them far more adaptable and reliable than their opponents. This was clear on Thursday as Swiatek and Jabeur faced Aryna Sabalenka and Caroline Garcia in their respective semi-finals, both challengers resting their success on all-out attack. When nerves struck, at the very beginning for Garcia and while Sabalenka led 4-2 in the third set, neither could adapt.
Swiatek is one of the best athletes in the world and possesses some of the most destructive weaponry off the ground and she is increasingly finding that balance again. Jabeur, meanwhile, is blessed with a complete game and a vast array of shots. She can smother opponents with her serve and forehand, she can slice them to death, pepper them with drop shots and she has also massively improved her physicality.
In the past, Jabeur had so many options that it was overwhelming. She often struggled to make the right choices on court. But she is now slowly learning how to use them, to adjust in the matches and to know when to be disciplined and to play more with instinct. “When I talk to my coach before the matches, I just feel like now I can do whatever I can do and what I want to do on the court, which is surprising for me and I surprise myself so many times,” said the 28-year-old.
The players should be on court in a little more than a half hour. Plenty more to come between now and then.
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