‘I was crying for 40 minutes’ - World No.1 Iga Swiatek reflects on sudden Ash Barty retirement and superb recent form

New world No.1 Iga Swiatek admits she was taken aback by three-time Grand Slam winner Ash Barty’s sudden decision to retire — but says her recent form has given much cause for optimism ahead of the clay court season. Last month, Barty made the decision to call time on her career at the age of 25, insisting she had “no regrets” after becoming the first home player to win an Australian Open singles title in 44 years. Ad/> Swiatek says emotions were running high following the news, which shocked the world of tennis to its core.

Tennis'She has charisma' — Henin hopes Swiatek will thrive as world No. 101/04/2022 AT 14:38 “I was crying for 40 minutes. Mainly, it was because of Ash's retirement,” Swiatek told BBC Sport.

“I didn't know it was going to happen and it really surprised me. «I always had this vision that we would all play until we are 35 or something, until our bodies are so tired that we can't any more. I needed time to actually understand what she must have thought.

Her decision was really brave and I felt a lot of emotions because of that. »I also felt emotional because of my own position. I realised after two hours of being really emotional that 'hey, you don't know what is going to happen yet and you still have to win some matches'.

“So I told myself 'let's wait with the emotions and with being excited because I have work to do'.” Barty’s retirement opened the door for Swiatek to replace her at the top of the WTA rankings, with an impressive 17-match unbeaten run cementing the 20-year-old’s rapid rise. Such form has seen Swiatek, French Open champion in 2020, pick up WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Indian Wells. Last weekend, she added the Miami Open title to her recent trophy haul by emphatically sweeping aside