Iga Swiatek sets up Coco Gauff showdown at Miami and admits she is ‘in a good place’ after world No 1 feat

Being No 1 in the WTA Rankings often comes with added pressure, but for now Iga Swiatek is enjoying life at the top as she remained on course for a Sunshine Double with an impressive win over Madison Brengle.

With Ashleigh Barty retiring from tennis with immediate effect, Swiatek ascended the throne after her second round win in Florida and she added another victory to her match-winning run with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Brengle in just over an hour.

There was no let up from the second seed in the opening set as she broke three times as it took Brengle eight games to get on the scoreboard.

The American then had a look in at levelling the match as she broke in game five, but the advantage was wiped out in the next game before Swiatek broke again in game eight to go 13-0 following her Indian Wells Open win last week.

A ＭＡＲＡＴＨＯＮ rally with a stunning finish @iga_swiatek | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/GYDgVJ8VE5

— wta (@WTA) March 27, 2022

Swiatek was asked about the extra pressure that comes with the No 1 ranking, but played it down.

“I feel like I’m in a good place with my tennis and I’m focusing on that,” she said. “I know the ranking can be pressure, but on the other hand when I was climbing up and I entered top 10 and top 5 I felt the same feeling, and right now I don’t want to repeat that. So I just focus on my game.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen after the tournament and the adrenaline will go down and I have more time to stress about that a little bit more, but for now I feel great. It’s not like it’s bothering me, it’s more motivating me. So it’s great.”

Next up is Coco Gauff after the 14th seed defeated Zhang Shuai 7-6 (7-1), 7-5.

Gauff and Zhang shared four breaks of serve in the opening set before the American