Rafael Nadal named ITF World Champion for a fifth time as Iga Swiatek honoured for first time
Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek are the big 2022 tennis winners as the Grand Slam champions have been named the ITF World Champions of the year.
Former world No 1 Nadal received the award on the back of winning the Australian Open and French Open to become the outright leader for most Grand Slam singles titles won by a man.
The Spaniard, who sits on 22 majors, lost only one match in the Grand Slams this year as he withdrew from his Wimbledon semi-final clash ahead of the encounter against Nick Kyrgios and exited the US Open in the fourth round. He finished the year with a 39-8 win-loss record.
“I’m very happy to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time,” Nadal said. “When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to still be playing at such a high level 14 years later.
“It was really special to win the Australian Open for a second time, and of course to win Roland Garros. I am really grateful for the support of my team and my fans around the world and, I am already looking forward to the 2023 season.”
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Nadal is now tied with his great rival Roger Federer in third place for most ITF World Champion awards with Pete Sampras second on six and Novak Djokovic leading the way on eight.
Swiatek was the dominant player on the WTA Tour this year as she became world No 1 in March and also won the French Open and US Open.
The Pole won eight titles in total and also enjoyed a 37-match winning streak from February until July for the longest WTA win-streak in 25 years.
“This was a big year for me, and such significant awards show me how far I’ve come,” the 21-year-old, who finished with a 67-9 record in 2022, said.
“I appreciate it and I want to thank the ITF. It wouldn’t have happened without my team, my family, and my fans from Poland and all over the world. Consider it our joint award for amazing adventures on court in 2022.”
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Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova scooped the ITF World Champions award in the women’s doubles after winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open as a pair. Their win at Flushing Meadows earned them a Career Grand Slam.
“It is a great honour to receive the ITF Women’s Doubles World Champion award for the third time and I am grateful for the results and memories I have made with my doubles partner this year,” Krejcikova said.
“We hope that our success will continue inspiring young kids around the world and help them believe in their dreams on and off the court. I am so grateful to my family, my coaching team, mentors, partners, fans and everyone else who has stood by me and who is constantly supporting me to achieve my dreams.”
Rajeev Ram from the United States and Great Britain’s Joe Salisbury were named 2022 ITF World Champions in men’s doubles on the back of winning the US Open and becoming world No 1.
“We are very honoured to have won this prestigious award from the ITF as recognition for the successes we have had,” Salisbury said. “We are very proud of all we have achieved this year.”
