'Even if Ashleigh Barty hadn't retired, Iga Swiatek would have reached No. 1' – Chris Evert

Iga Swiatek would have ascended to world No. 1 even if Ashleigh Barty had continued playing, according to 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert. The Pole, 20, marked her coronation at the top of the WTA rankings by completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ at the Miami Open last week – although it would not have been possible had Barty not stunned the tennis world by retiring aged 25.

Ad/> Swiatek admitted she was “crying for 40 minutes” after Barty’s announcement she would “chase other dreams” in March. Roland-GarrosNadal regen Alcaraz can win ‘double digit’ Grand Slams — Evert6 HOURS AGO She is on a run of 16 straight victories that have seen her capture titles at the Qatar Open, Indian Wells and Miami. She is the favourite to win a second French Open title at Roland-Garros, the venue she burst onto the scene at in 2020 by winning the title as a teenager.

Evert believes Swiatek has all the components to stay at the top and, just as she did for men’s phenom Carlos Alcaraz, tipped her to win at least 10 Grand Slams. “I always have thought that to put together seven matches in a Grand Slam was really hard, to be at a high level, but she's put together 16,” said Discovery tennis expert Evert. “To put together 16 matches in a row with this field with this depth in the women's game and not having a real dip, not having a let-down, is almost unheard of in the women's game and that's what makes her so special and that's what makes her the number one player in the world.

Is Swiatek v Osaka the next big rivalry in tennis? Why Alcaraz’s ‘miracle’ breakthrough is ‘sensational’ for Nadal “I think even if Ashleigh Barty hadn't retired, Iga would have reached the No. 1 spot. “What impresses me about her is – very much like Alcaraz – is the