Poland’s Iga Swiatek to succeed Ash Barty as world No1

The 20-year-old has ascended into the top spot after Ash Barty’s retirement.

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, is the new world number one (Marta Lavandier/AP)

Poland’s Iga Swiatek will take over as world number one following a 6-2 6-0 win over Viktorija Golubic in the second round of the Miami Open.

The 20-year-old – who becomes the first Polish player to achieve the feat – was only elevated to world number two after winning the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells last week.

She will officially become the youngest player to make her No1 debut since Caroline Wozniacki, who was 216 days younger, in 2010, when the new rankings are published on 4 April.

Swiatek is on a career-best 12-match winning streak and has a tour-high 21 wins this year, with WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Indian Wells.

Following her ascension to the top spot, which comes just days after Ash Barty’s shock retirement, Swiatek called her new ranking “surreal”.

“I’m pretty sure that tomorrow the sun will shine exactly the same way as today but for now…it feels surreal. No.1!!” Swiatek wrote on Twitter following her win.

Her No1 ranking will be recorded officially once the tournament is over and Barty is removed. The 25-year-old Australian announced her shock retirement on Wednesday.

Swiatek told a press conference: “The thing is, I never really imagined that moment because, truth to be told, I was working day-by-day and playing tennis well. But I never had the strong belief that it can actually happen. So, it’s even more surreal for me.

“I loved every moment of it. It doesn’t matter for me if there were fireworks. The crowd was really supportive, they were really excited. I’m just soaking everything in because I didn’t have any expectations.”

The Pole is the 28th woman to hold the No1 ranking since the computerised system was introduced in November 1975.

Earlier on Friday, Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova secured her place in the third round of the Miami Open after beating world No24 Elise Mertens.

The 16-year-old wildcard, who is ranked 279, only won her first match against a top-100 ranked player in the first round, before her 7-5 2-6 6-1 win over Mertens.

The teenager hailed this tournament as “unbelievable”, following her surprise victory.

“Well, I mean, it’s definitely one of my best tournaments so far. I think the best one. I never played against top-25 player, and, yeah, it’s unbelievable,” Fruhvirtova said.

“I still can’t believe it. But I’m so happy I got the win here. I worked really hard for this, and I’m enjoying it.”

Another highly ranked player also crashed out – Greece’s Maria Sakkari lost in three sets to Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Fourth-seeded Sakkari won the first set, only for the Brazilian to fight back, winning the next two to take her place in the third round.

Coco Gauff celebrates a point against Wang Qiang of China, during the Miami Open tennis tournament on Friday (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Coco Gauff came through in straight sets against Qiang Wang.

Gauff said after the match: “Obviously I was super motivated today to get the win. I just kind of approached it just playing free.

“I feel like playing at a home crowd you either can get nervous playing in front of your family, friends, or embrace it, and today I think I embraced it.”

Petra Kvitova also won in straight sets against Clara Burel.

Madison Brengle beat the seeded Liudmila Samsonova 6-4 6-0, and Jessica Pegula only needed two sets to secure victory against Sloane Stephens.