Iga Swiatek's rise to No 1 in WTA rankings caps remarkable run for Pole

Poland's Iga Swiatek was confirmed as the new WTA No 1 in the rankings on Monday, replacing the retired Ashleigh Barty.

Swiatek, 20, celebrated her new status in style on Sunday, winning the Miami Open with a straight-sets win over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. She is the first player from her country to top the rankings.

Swiatek's rise to the top came after three-times Grand Slam champion Ash Barty's shock retirement from tennis last month.

New No 1 Swiatek said she cried for 40 minutes after learning of Barty's decision to call time on her career at the age of 25.

“I was crying for 40 minutes,” Swiatek told the BBC. “Mainly, it was because of Ash's retirement. 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.”

Swiatek said she became emotional after finding out that she could take over the top spot, which the 20-year-old Pole did after a second-round win at the Miami Open.

“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,'” Swiatek said.

Ashleigh Barty with her coach Craig Tyzzer during a press conference in Brisbane on March 24, 2022, after she announced her retirement from tennis. AFP

She eventually went on to lift the title in Miami without dropping a set, defeating four-times Grand Slam champion Osaka 6-4, 6-0 in the final.

Victory handed Swiatek her third consecutive trophy of the year after wins in Qatar and Indian