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Iga Swiatek’s Cancun Dominance Helps Her Smash Legend Martina Navratilova’s Incredible Record

Published 11/07/2023, 6:16 AM EST

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In the world of tennis, where winning matches and titles matter, the weightage of breaking records has always been something important. Every new achievement adds another badge of greatness to a player’s legacy. The final match at the WTA’s most awaited event brought a lot more than just immense competition. Being way more than just a clash between two top 5 WTA players, where Iga Swiatek faced off against Jessica Pegula the match proved to be a lot more than just winning; it was about getting one’s name in the history books.

Iga Swiatek’s victory against Jessica Pegula brought her a lot more than just her first WTA Finals title. It was a milestone that took her into the league of legends, a unique accomplishment only a few have accomplished before. By breaking a record that had been held for decades by none other than the legendary Martina Navratilova, the young Polish star made her name immortal in the world of tennis. But what was the record exactly?

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek breaks Martina Navratilova’s long-formed record

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The final match between the Polish tennis icon Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula became a great hit. Taking place after a huge pack of controversies over the location and court conditions in Cancun, the victory came forward to suppress the darker side for a while. The 22-year-old not only earned her first WTA Finals title but also secured the glorious world no. 1 ranking for the year-end. Swiatek’s performance in the final against Jessica Pegula left fans and experts stunned, as she won the match with an unexpected score of 6-1, 6-0. However, it’s not just the victory that has the tennis world buzzing; it’s the record she broke in the process.

But what sets Swiatek’s performance apart is the record she achieved. By losing just one game during the entire match, she created a mark that wasn’t ever seen before in a WTA Finals final. While the previous record of losing only two games in a final was jointly held by legends Martina Navratilova in 1983 and Kim Clijsters in 2003, Swiatek’s latest feat brought her ahead of them.

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Iga Swiatek’s victory was nothing short of a triple hit–a win in the WTA Finals, the world no. 1 ranking, and a record for the fewest games lost in a final. However, Jessica Pegula, besides facing a disappointing defeat against the Pole, also made a record worth mentioning.

Jessica Pegula’s record besides defeat at the WTA Finals

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As the WTA Finals turned pages of exciting events, Jessica Pegula made history by facing not just one, but the top four ranked players in the world. Pegula, who reached the finals, became the first player ever to take on the World No. 1 (Aryna Sabalenka), No. 2 (Iga Swiatek), No. 3 (Coco Gauff), and No. 4 (Elena Rybakina) in a single tournament since the inception of WTA Rankings in 1975.

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Pegula’s journey in the WTA Finals was nothing less than remarkable. She faced some of the fiercest competitors in women’s tennis and battled tirelessly to reach the final match against Iga Swiatek. Her unique achievement of playing against the top four players in the world, despite the players reporting lesser time frames between matches, made her performance worth remembering.

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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Akshay Kapoor is a tennis writer at Essentially Sports. With a commendable experience of around 2 years in sports journalism under his belt, Akshay joined ES with the intention of taking the next step in honing his skills. Born into a family that practically breathes tennis, Akshay spent his early days huddled together with his loved ones, watching the electrifying rallies of the legendary Rafael Nadal.
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Edited by:

Aishwary Gaonkar