Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 player in the world, wins the U.S. Open for the first time.

Ons Jabeur knew she was in trouble against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek even before the U.S. Open women’s final started.

Jabeur had predicted that the final would be difficult, saying that “Iga never loses finals.”

Swiatek, a 21-year-old Polish player who has won two of the previous three French Open crowns and a 37-match winning run earlier this year, was vying for her first major championship on a hard court.

She accomplished this in an outstanding manner, defeating Jabeur 6-2, 7-6(5) after taking eight of the opening nine points. This victory made her the first Polish woman to ever win the U.S. Open. Swiatek has became the first No. 1 seed since Serena Williams in 2014 to go to the women’s final, and she is now an incredible 10-1 in finals, having won all 10 without dropping a set.

As the first woman to win multiple majors in a calendar year since Angie Kerber in 2016, Swiatek will end 2022 having won two of the year’s four majors, solidifying her position as the top woman in the world. She has by far the most match victories on the WTA Tour this year with 57.

“This competition was really difficult, Swiatek stated. “It’s New York, and it’s so wild and loud. Temptations abound throughout the metropolis. I have come across so many inspiring persons in my life. I’m very pleased with myself because I was able to cope mentally.”

With the trophy, Swiatek will receive $2.6 million (“I’m fairly glad it’s not in cash”), while Jabeur will receive $1.3 million. It was Tunisian native Jabeur’s second consecutive defeat in a major final after she was defeated by Elena Rybakina in the Wimbledon final in three sets. On Monday, Swiatek will rise to No. 2, but Jabeur’s points are still more than double Swiatek’s.

Swiatek proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is not only a clay court specialist by winning her third major title at the age of 21.

Chrissie Evert, an 18-time major champion, said on ESPN that she “established she’s not only a great on clay, but a champion on hard courts as well.”

She was ranked number one in the world and performed accordingly.

Swiatek quickly raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set by taking eight of the opening nine points. When Swiatek aggressively pushed with a forehand winner up the line for 4-2, Jabeur swiftly surrendered the break back. When Jabeur missed a forehand volley on game point, she went on to win 5-2. Jabeur’s backhand into the net to close a rally gave Swiatek the opening set.

Swiatek’s consistent deep ground strokes made it difficult for Jabeur to play her usual style of switching it up, altering pace, and hitting slices.

Ons hasn’t been able to engage in her favourite creative activity, according to Evert.

She contacted her coach Issam Jellali for advice after the first set, and he suggested that she try to advance.

However, not much changed. With a two-handed backhand winner up the line, Swiatek quickly gained another break to make it 2-0.

Between the second set, things started to become a little chaotic inside Ashe, with fans cheering during points, which both players found unsettling. When supporters cried out on numerous points, Jabeur had a chance to break for a 5-4 score.

But Swiatek persevered despite being down by 15-40 points to win the game 5-4 with a 101 mph serve.

Jabeur sailed a forehand long when serving at 5-6, 30-all, putting Swiatek on match point. She, though, resisted it and forced a tiebreak.

When Jabeur sailed a forehand deep on the second match point, Swiatek won the tiebreak after Jabeur had dropped 5-of-6 tiebreak points on her serve.

Jabeur stated, “I tried really hard, but Iga didn’t make it easy for me today. “I don’t particularly like her right now, but it’s okay… I’m confident that if I keep working hard, we’ll soon obtain that title.

As the No. 1 player in the world, Swiatek was able to go unnoticed for a while during the first week of the Open due to all of the focus on Serena.

I was genuinely considering that whenever I watched Serena, she admitted. “I have never experienced being No. 1 and participating in this competition, so it’s difficult for me to say.

“It’s difficult for me to compare, but, yes, perhaps little less pressure was put on me. However, simply performing poorly earlier definitely helped to relieve some strain.

Swiatek also complimented Daria Abramowicz, her sports psychologist, with enhancing her mental toughness.

She said, “The work we did with Daria for certainly helped.” “At the moment, it’s just simpler for me to logically consider what I can change. And I think I have more abilities than just one kind of playing style to do that.

Therefore, I’m glad that it changed because, in my opinion, that’s basically what matters the most at the highest level.

Even though she lost twice, Jabeur has established herself as the first Arab and first African woman to advance to a major final.

When Jabeur was introduced, there was a sizable group of supporters wearing Tunisian-themed shirts and hats, and she received a thunderous round of applause.

Jabeur aspires to have the same influence in Tunisia and worldwide that African-American tennis players like Venus and Serena Williams and most recently Frances Tiafoe did in the United States in encouraging younger players of colour to pick up a racquet.

Jabeur remarked, “This is just the beginning of so many things. I just truly hope I can inspire more and more.”