The two current giants of women’s tennis – Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur – will duel it out for the US Open crown at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.
World No.1 Swiatek will be shooting for her second Grand Slam win in 2022 – after winning the French Open – and her third major of her career
The Tunisian world No.5, who would be ranked higher if her rankings points from Wimbledon counted, has only dropped one set (vs. Shelby Rogers) in her run to final, facing a deceptively tough schedule.
She destroyed in-form Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarters, while also dismissing French Open quarter-finalist Veronika Kudermetova in the fourth round.
Jabeur’s game was marred by inconsistent performances up until recently, where she would produce blistering tennis but then go off the boil in the same match.
The two finalists have played against each other twice, and while the record is split 2-2, Swiatek won their only meeting in 2022 easily on clayPolish star Swiatek has had a tough run to the final with the complications starting in the second round in the form of the unpredictable Sloane Stephens, who she swept aside in straight sets.
Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier was waiting in the fourth round, with Swiatek dropping the first set before thrashing the German in the next two.
The top-ranked women’s player managed to quell the crowd in dwspatching home favourite Jessica Pegula in the quarters before running into trouble against Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final.
Swiatek was a set down against the Belarusian and looking shaky before regaining her composure to reach her second Grand Slam final of the year.
There is no doubt Swiatek isn’t as dominant as she was when she lifted the French Open title earlier this year, but she is showing grit to turn around matches when she is struggling.
After just falling short in the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina, Jabeur is primed for another chance at a Grand Slam title
