Swiatek won the game 6-4, 6-0.
In a short speech after her victory, 20-year-old Swiatek thanked her team and fans and also sent a message to Ukraine, which had been under Russian attack for weeks: “Stay strong,” Swiatek said after her recent triumph in Indian Wells and the With the sudden retirement of Ashleigh Barty, who held the top spot, Swiatek was guaranteed to climb to the top spot in the women’s rankings ahead of the Miami Championship.
The ranking is to be published on Monday.
Saturday’s win for Swiatek was historic – in more ways than one.
She is the fourth woman to ever win the Sunshine Double – at both Indian Wells and Miami – after Victoria Azarenka last did so in 2016, and the first player to win the first three 1000 tournaments of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA ) won in one season.
And she will be the first Polish player – man or woman – to reach the top position in singles tennis.
“Watching their journey is really incredible,” Osaka told Swiatek after the game. “I hope you keep having fun.”
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was playing in her first final since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
In her own speech after Saturday’s game, Osaka thanked her supporters and fans, adding, “I know I haven’t been in that position for a little minute.”
“I know this isn’t the result you guys wanted but I don’t know, I’m having a lot of fun up here so I’m hoping to keep working hard and get more opportunities to be in a situation like this again,” she said.
Osaka also thanked her team for their continued support, even “after the things that happened about two weeks ago.”
“You are like the rock that stays by my side. Thank you so much,” Osaka said.
At Indian Wells last month, Osaka was molested by a spectator at the start of their second-round match against Veronika Kudermetova.
“Naomi, you shit,” the spectator seemed to yell after the first game of the game, a comment that caused the tennis player to cry on court. It is unclear if this spectator was identified and removed from the venue. Osaka ultimately lost the match in straight sets.