Iga Swiatek beats Ons Jabeur for first U.S. Open title

9/10/2022 6:35:56 PM EST

Top-seeded Iga Swiatek hit 19 winners on Saturday and won the third Grand Slam title of her career by dispatching fifth-seeded Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the U.S. Open final in New York.

It is the first U.S. Open championship for Swiatek, who won the French Open in 2020 and 2022. The 21-year-old from Poland also recorded her 10th career tournament victory, with all the wins coming in straight sets.

With her seventh trophy this season, Swiatek is the first on the WTA Tour to do so since Serena Williams in 2014.

Swiatek is also the first No. 1 overall seed to win the U.S. Open since Williams in 2014.

"Before this tournament, it was a challenging time. Coming back after winning a Grand Slam is always tricky," Swiatek said. "For sure, this tournament was really challenging, also, because it's New York.

"It's so loud. It's so crazy. There are so many temptations in the city, so many people I've met who are inspiring, I'm so proud of how I've handled it mentally."

Swiatek receives $2.6 million for winning the tournament.

"I'm pretty glad it's not in cash," Swiatek joked.

Jabeur, 28, lost in a Grand Slam final for the second time this season. She fell to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the Wimbledon final.

Jabeur, from Tunisia, is the first Arab woman to play in the U.S. Open final. She committed 33 unforced errors and had 14 winners.

"I really tried but Iga didn't make it easy for me," Jabeur said. "She deserved to win today. I don't like her very much right now but it's OK. ... I'm going to keep working hard and we'll get that (Grand Slam) title sometime soon."

Swiatek had 30 unforced errors but saved 6 of 9 break points.

Jabeur saved a match point in the second set and won the following two to force a tiebreak.

Swiatek held a 4-2 edge in the tiebreak before Jabeur scored the next three points to move ahead.

But Swiatek converted the next three points, claiming the crown when Jabeur hit a forehand shot long.

"I have nothing to regret because I did everything possible," Jabeur said. "I wish I served little bit better today. It would have helped me a lot. Iga, how she plays in finals ... it's very enough to beat her."

Swiatek won the first three games of the opening set. After Jabeur won the next two, Swiatek regained her form and won the next three to close out the set.

She also won the first three games of the second set before Jabeur made a run by winning four of the next five games to tie it. But Swiatek held her service to take a 5-4 lead before Jabeur again tied the match.

Swiatek edged back ahead at 6-5 when Jabeur meekly hit a return into the net.

--Field Level Media

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