Iga Swiatek has enjoyed a stunning 2022 –– but where does it rank among the great individual tennis seasons?
The Polish star assumed the world number one ranking from Ashleigh Barty earlier this year and has not looked back since.
Indeed, Swiatek dominated the first half of 2022 –– winning 37 matches in a row and claiming her second French Open title.
The 21-year-old also clinched her first-ever US Open title and could yet claim more silverware at the WTA Finals later this year.
Swiatek now has the most wins in a single year for a female player since Caroline Wozniacki in 2017.
Yet, despite her dominance in 2022, some tennis stars have enjoyed even more impressive seasons in years gone by.
We’ve ranked the top seven individual seasons of the Open Era:
Which tennis player had the most dominant season ever?
7. Roger Federer - 2006
Federer was by far the most dominant tennis player on the planet for the first decade of this century.
In 2006, he won three of the four Grand Slam titles and finished the year with an overall record of 92 wins and just five defeats.
However, as was so often the case, it was Rafael Nadal who proved to be his kryptonite as the Spaniard beat Federer in the French Open final.
In fact, four of Federer’s five losses that year were to Nadal -– which stops him from being ranked higher on this list.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Roger Federer of Team Europe smiles during Day Two of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 24, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
6. Martina Navratilova - 1983
Navratilova was one win away from perhaps the most dominant season in tennis history.
In 1983, she won three of the four Grand Slams and finished with a record of 86-1.
At Wimbledon and the US Open, Navratilova did not lose a set and stormed to victory in both tournaments.
A fourth-round loss at the French Open to Kathy Horvath will haunt her forever though. Despite 'bageling' Horvath in one set, she lost the other two and succumbed to defeat.
5. Jimmy Connors - 1974
Connors won three Grand Slams in 1974 and finished the year with 93 match wins.
He could well have won all four, had he not been banned from competing at the French Open that season.
Connors had signed a contract to play for World Team Tennis and was refused entry by the ATP.
Jimmy Connors of the United States holds the trophy at winning the Men's Singles Final match against Ken Rosewall at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 6 July 1974 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
4. John McEnroe - 1984
Connors’ rival, McEnroe, enjoyed a similarly stellar year 10 years later.
McEnroe had a 6-0 record against Connors in 1984 and won two Grand Slams at Wimbledon and the US Open.
He finished the year with just three defeats –– one of which came in the French Open final against Ivan Lendl.
3. Novak Djokovic - 2021
Djokovic looked almost certain to claim the Golden Slam at one stage in 2021.
With Nadal and Federer both struggling with injuries, the Serbian had few players to challenge him and won the first three Grand Slams of the year.
However, after losing in the sem-finals of the Olympics, Djokovic also lost to Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open.
It was still an exceptional season, but not quite the best ever.
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates as he kisses the trophy after winning his Men's Singles Final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day Fifteen of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 13, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
2. Margaret Court - 1970
Court lost six matches in 1970, but successfully completed the Grand Slam.
Despite needing an injection for a sprained ankle against Billie Jean King in the Wimbledon final, she somehow still defeated the American.
In total, Court won 21 tournaments in 1970.
1. Steffi Graf - 1988
Graf had a record of 75-2 in 1987 and 86-2 in 1989. Yet, her best ever year came in 1988 when she won all four Slams in the same season.
What’s more, Graf claimed Olympic gold that year –– becoming the only woman in the Open Era to win the Golden Slam.
Some of Graf’s results that season make for impressive reading. She won the French Open final 6-0 6-0 and dropped no more than four matches in any of her seven matches at Wimbledon.