World No.1 Iga Swiatek has swept to victory over Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-2 7-6(5) in the US Open final, clinching her maiden trophy at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam crown.
Poland's Swiatek fell on her back and covered her face with her hands, after prevailing in the tight second-set tiebreak, sealing the win when the fifth seed's shot sailed long.
"I really needed to stay composed and stay focused on the goals," Swiatek said. "It's New York, it's so loud, it's so crazy.
"I'm so proud I could handle it mentally."
Twice French Open champion Swiatek secured her first major title on a hardcourt and the 21-year-old becomes the first Polish woman to win the US Open.
Despite the defeat, Jabeur will regain her world No.2 ranking when the tournament concludes.
Jabeur made history at Wimbledon, when she became the first Arab woman to reach a major final. She added another line in the history books at New York, becoming the first African woman to reach the US Open championship match.
"Hopefully I can inspire more and more generations," she said. "This is just the beginning of so many things."
Swiatek came out firing, pushing Jabeur to the back of the court with her precise serve and deep groundstrokes to race to a 3-0 lead.
Jabeur found the range with her forehand to win back-to-back games for 3-2, but the momentum was short-lived, as Swiatek broke back and took the 30-minute first set, when the Tunisian's backhand landed in the net.
A confident frontrunner, Swiatek kept the pressure on early in the second, as frustration began to mount for Jabeur, who dropped her racket in dismay, when her normally trusty dropshot landed short of the net in the second game of the set.
Swiatek blasted a backhand winner down the line for a 3-0 second set lead and it seemed the match would be a brief affair, but urged on by a rowdy and supportive crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Jabeur rallied to force a tiebreak.
However, she made some costly unforced errors that opened the door for Swiatek, who exchanged a warm embrace with the Tunisian after improving to a 3-2 lifetime record against her.
Reuters
