Skiing Greats Shiffrin & Vonn Congratulate Swiatek After Historic WTA Finals Win

On Monday, Iga Swiatek finished one of her greatest seasons by winning the WTA Finals in the most dominant fashion possible and simultaneously reclaimed the No. 1 ranking.

The Polish star became the youngest winner of the WTA Finals in 12 years. Swiatek conceded just 20 games during her title run, the fewest by a champion at the tournament since the round-robin format was introduced back in 2003.

In a career filled with landmarks and record-breaking wins, this latest triumph takes the cake as the most impressive feat of all. Swiatek laid waste to seven of the world's Top 8 players in the semi-hurricane-like playing conditions in Cancun.

She adapted and weathered the storm better than everybody. Swiatek provided a silver lining to a chaotic tournament. This season, the 22-year-old has spent more time trying to discover her inner self and channeled her focus to develop as a player rather than obsess about the No. 1 ranking.

Swiatek's success on Monday did not go unnoticed beyond the tennis fraternity. Swiatek's friendship with alpine skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn is well known, and the two World Cup skiing greats congratulated her after winning the sixth WTA title of 2023.

"Woke up to the best news!!! Congrats Iga Swiatek, World No. 1."

Shiffrin wrote on X

"You just crushed it!! Hard work pays off. Congrats #1!!!"

Vonn praised Swiatek on X

Swiatek and Shiffrin bumped into each other on social media, often chatting about their career paths and how to deal with fame. They have talked about plans to stage an exhibition match in doubles should their calendars allow it. The 28-year-old Shiffrin has been very supportive of the Pole even when she lost the No. 1 ranking at the end of the US Open.

She may be older than Swiatek, but Shiffrin - who has the most World Cup wins of any alpine skier in history - is learning from her fellow athlete. Currently in Levi, Finland, preparing for the inaugural slalom races of the season, the American certainly kept a close eye on the events in Cancun.