But the 21-year-old tennis superstar is just relieved that her massive payday came in the form of a check.
Swiatek beat world No. 5 Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) Saturday evening to win the 2022 US Open women’s singles championship. The victory marked the world No. 1’s third-career Grand Slam title and her first at Flushing Meadows.
During the ceremony following her win — before she was given her trophy — an official presented Swiatek with an envelope containing her prize money.
With the cameras on her, the Polish star leaned in with a smile and joked: “I’m really glad that this is not in cash,” earning a laugh from both the woman handling her check and the interviewer standing beside her.
—Out of Context Iga Swiatek (@SwiatekOOC)
September 10, 2022
Swiatek’s victory makes her the unquestioned leader of women’s tennis at the moment.
Though she’s held the No. 1 singles ranking since April of this year, many — including Swiatek herself — questioned whether her dominance on the clay could translate to other surfaces.
But her two-week run in New York City quells any doubt that she can compete with the best on the hard court. And now that she’s earned two Grand Slams in a single year — having won the French Open in June — she’s surely the player to beat for the foreseeable future.