21 Under 21 to Watch in '21: Iga Swiatek

Baseline is looking ahead to the new year by showcasing 21 players under 21 to watch out for in '21. To make the coveted list, players must be born in 2000 or later.

It's safe to say that Iga Swiatek wasn't on many people's minds as a major contender in 2020. Although she was a Top 5 junior player and reached the semifinals of junior Roland Garros, she flew under the radar until 2019.

Swiatek soared into the round of 16 of Roland Garros in 2019 and matched that run at the 2020 Australian Open. From there, she would score a solid win against Top-20 competitor Donna Vekic in Doha before the tour shutdown.

When the action kicked back up, Swiatek went through a rough patch in New York and then would make history in Paris, becoming the first Polish player to ever win a major.

Ranking: No. 17

Age: 19 (May, 31, 2001)

Instagram:@iga.swiatek

What she did in 2020: When she hoisted the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup, she became the youngest singles champion since Rafael Nadal in 2005 and the youngest women's singles winner since 1992 at the Paris major. Swiatek also finished the season with a career-high ranking.

Skill Highlights: Swiatek describes her game as "a big serve, topspin, and backhand down the line." She's an all-court player and looks to be the aggressor, tending to hit both a lot of winners and unforced errors.

Career Highlights: The 2020 season was full of accomplishments. Swiatek captured her maiden Grand Slam and did not give up more than five games in a single match. She also knocked out top-seed Simona Halep in her epic run.