Paris (AFP)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Poland’s Iga Świentek have been named world champions by the International Tennis Federation, following a season in which they each won two of four Grand Slam titles.
Nadal managed to win the Australian Open title, then added his 14th French Open title, which brought his total number of Grand Slam titles to 22, which is a record for men.
In turn, Chivontec, which took first place in the world rankings last March after the sudden withdrawal of Australian Ashley Barty, won Roland Garros for the second time and then graduated to the US Open.
“I am very happy to have been chosen world champion by the International Federation for the fifth time,” said Nadal, 36.
“When I first won the award in 2008, I didn’t expect to continue playing at such a high level 14 years later,” he added.
Nadal also reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, but was forced to retire before facing Australian Nick Kyrgios, due to an abdominal muscle injury.
American Rajeev Ram and Briton Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles world title for the first time, after winning their third Grand Slam title together at the US Open, and then winning the ATP Finals title for the first time time in November.
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won the women’s doubles for the third time. The Czech duo won three Grand Slam titles, namely the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.
