Iga Swiatek on another planet.
Two Grand Slam titles (Roland-Garros and the US Open), four WTA 1000s (Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Rome), 37 consecutive victories (the longest streak on the WTA circuit since 1990) before being brutally ejected in the 3rd round against Alizé Cornet), 67 victorious matches during the season (9 defeats) the highest total on the women's circuit since Serena Williams in 2013, Iga Swiatek hovered over the season.
The Pole registering as the first since the German Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win two Grand Slam titles in the same season.
For a fabulous year concluded with a grimace in the semi-finals of the Masters (beaten by the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka).
A defeat quickly put away.
“
This season was special, I never
summed up the Polish woman, firmly established at the top of the world rankings.
Ashleigh Barty, a dream outing.
Titled in Melbourne, after experiencing many disappointments there and resisting the weight of expectation of a country in need of a title since Chris O'Neil in 1978, the Australian surprised the world of tennis by announcing her retirement in the stride of a final (against the American Danielle Collins) and a controlled tournament (not a lost set).
At 25, the one who had already left the women's circuit to satisfy her desires elsewhere, in cricket, decided to put away her rackets.
His one-handed backhand pattern and his offensive game allowed him to win a 3rd and last Grand Slam title (after Roland-Garros 2019 and Wimbledon 2021), before bowing out wearing the crown of his dreams.
And in the first place in the world.
Caroline Garcia, six months at lightning speed.
75th in May after experiencing physical problems, the Lyonnaise has had a string of successes (Bad Hombourg on grass, Warsaw on clay and Cincinnati on hard courts; the Lyonnaise is the only player to achieve this in 2022, like Novak Djokovic on the men's circuit) to rush on the Masters carried by a semi-final at the US Open (the first of his career in Grand Slam).
And in Fort Worth (beaten in pools by Iga Swiatek), the Lyonnaise joined Amélie Mauresmo on the list, the only French woman to win the event.
Before going to participate in the maintenance of the France team in the world group of Fed Cup.
Epilogue of a crazy year which hoisted Caroline Garcia to 4th place in the world and opened up great prospects for her, at 29, since she
Promises named Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff.
The Tunisian (like the Norwegian Casper Ruud) lived her first two Grand Slam finals.
Punctuated by two defeats, at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Installed in 2nd place in the world, Ons Jabeur (28) has reached a new level in 2022, with titles in Madrid and Berlin (another final in Rome).
A player who, over her victories, has become a model, a source of inspiration in Tunisia.
Another figure ready to upset the hierarchy, the American Coco Gauff (18 years old) experienced, in 2022, the first major final of her young career at Roland-Garros.
The opportunity to see the extent of the possibilities and the maturity of a player inspired by the Williams sisters.
Serena Williams emotion and question mark.
The US Open set the final stage.
Serena Williams, under the eyes of Tiger Woods, carried by a boiling stadium was faithful to her electrifying legend and making New York roar, stepping over the first two laps before stumbling, not without having given everything against the Australian Ajla Tomjanovic.
"
The queen of queens
", as she was presented sparkling with diamonds when she entered the court Arthur Ashe had on the cover of US Vogue sketched the idea of letting the end credits scroll ("
I'm not good at goodbyes , I don't want it to be over, but at the same time, I'm ready for what's next
").
Without ever formalizing his desire to turn the page.
Before letting the possibility of a return float when the American legend confided to the San Francisco Standard: “
I am not retired.
The chances (of a return) are very high.
You can come to my house and you will see that I have a tennis court.
To stay stuck between emotion and question mark.
At 41 and with 23 Grand Slam crowns…
Elena Rybakina, Kazakh pioneer.
A brilliant first.
Elena Rybakina mastered her emotions and Ons Jabeur to turn her maiden Grand Slam final appearance into a Wimbledon fairy tale.
Of Russian origin, naturalized Kazakh at 18 to finance her career, she offered Kazakhstan the first Grand Slam title in its history.
By illustrating the variety of women's tennis (12th player to win a first major title since the end of Serena Williams' unchallenged domination in 2017).
The return to earth was more painful, as illustrated by a loss in the first round of the US Open against Clara Burel.
Alizé Cornet, late harvests.
The Niçoise (32) gave impetus to a smiling blue season of French women's tennis (with in particular the surprise appearances of Diane Parry and Léolia Jeanjean in the 3rd round of Roland-Garros) lived an incredible season by reaching her first quarter of final in the Grand Chelkem in Melbourne, by qualifying for the 3rd round of each Grand Slam, by climbing to the round of 16 at Wimbledon (by stopping Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1 driven by a crazy series), by offering herself the participation record with 63 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments (open series at the 2007 Australian Open).
During this career, she gave her full potential in Grand Slams, notably dominating Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep (at the Australian Open), Jelena Ostapenko (at Roland-Garros), Iga Swiatek (at Wimbledon) and Emma Raducanu (at the
U.S. Open).
Enough to cast doubt on the end of her career that she had imagined at Roland-Garros in 2023…