Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek has become the first WTA player to reach 20 victories in 2022, matching the record set by Rafael Nadal on the ATP Tour. ÅšwiÄ…tek triumphed at Indian Wells yesterday, earning a second successive WTA 1000 title and the third of her career. She defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1, and rose to world number two as a result. "It's pretty surreal for now," ÅšwiÄ…tek said after her win. "I have to look at it and I have to check the rankings by myself and just see it. â€œRight now it's too surreal to describe it, honestly. But for sure I want to go higher because I feel like getting the number one is closer and closer.”ŚwiÄ…tek is now the first player since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009 to win five or more titles before turning 21, having won Roland Garros in 2020, the Adelaide International and Rome Open in 2021, and the Doha Open and Indian Wells this year.The 20-year-old joins world number one Ashleigh Barty as the second player to win two titles this season, while leading the WTA Tour with four top 10 wins. 

ÅšwiÄ…tek also joined Nadal as the first player on their respective Tour to reach 20 victories this year. 

Nadal also reached the final of Indian Wells, but was beaten 6-3, 7-6 by Taylor Fritz. 

Świątek has regularly described Nadal as her childhood idol, reiterating her admiration for the 20-time Grand Slam winner in a BBC Sport column in January. 

The Polish star first met Nadal when they shared a practice court while preparing for Roland-Garros last year, with both stars entering the tournament as defending champions.

“You may have heard I’m a big fan of Rafael Nadal and when I met him for the first time it was pretty cool to see he is down to earth,” Świątek said.

“He was really humble and it doesn’t seem like the success has changed him. If I’m going to win more Grand Slam titles and have more success in my career then I hope I will be like Rafa.”

ÅšwiÄ…tek also revealed that she received a supportive text from Nadal after crashing out of the Australian Open at the semi-final stage. 

Nadal went on to win the men’s tournament at Melbourne Park, earning a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title. 

This victory came just a few months after the Spaniard thought a foot injury could end his prolific career.

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand against Taylor Fritz of the United States in the men's Final on Day 14 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 20, 2022 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)