Iga Swiatek can match Serena Williams and Martina Hingis' feat by clinching 3rd consecutive WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open

Iga Swiatek could follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams and Martina Hingis by winning the upcoming Miami Open. If she lifts the trophy in Miami, the Pole will become the third player this century to win three consecutive WTA 1000 titles.

Swiatek has won back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Qatar and Indian Wells. The Miami Open (WTA 1000) begins on Wednesday, and the Pole is, by all means, the woman to beat given her form, coupled with the absence of World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.

The 20-year-old is on an 11-match winning streak, during which time she has only dropped four sets. Swiatek is also the tour leader in match wins with 20 under her belt.

Serena Williams, who remains sidelined due to injury, won four consecutive WTA 1000 titles in 2013. The 23-time Major champion triumphed at Miami, Madrid, Rome, and Canada that year.

Meanwhile, Hingis achieved the feat in 2000, when she won titles in Canada, Moscow, and Zurich.

Swiatek, seeded second in Miami, can make further history in the coastal town by becoming only the fourth woman to complete the Sunshine Double, which is winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.

Steffi Graf was the first woman to achieve the feat when she won both events in 1994. She did so again in 1996. Kim Clijsters (2004) and Victoria Azarenka (2016) are the other female players to have achieved this feat.

Serena Williams would likely have been part of this list had she not boycotted Indian Wells for 14 years, after she was subject to racially-charged jeers during the 2001 edition of the event.

Serena Williams came close to winning 7 consecutive WTA 1000 events in 2013

Serena Williams poses with her 2013 Miami Open title

Serena Williams enjoyed a phenomenal season in 2013, lifting a whopping 11 titles, including two Grand Slams -- Roland Garros and the US Open. She won four WTA 1000 titles and also the year-ending WTA Finals.

Williams finished her season with an astonishing 78-4 win-loss record and the No. 1 ranking.

More interestingly, though, the American could have won a mind-boggling seven consecutive WTA 1000 events that year (discounting the events that were not held, or that she skipped).

Serena Williams lost in the final of the Qatar Open (to Victoria Azarenka) at the beginning of the year before embarking on a winning spree in Miami, Madrid, Rome, and Canada. She skipped Indian Wells, which took place before the Miami Open.

After winning in Canada, Williams headed to Cincinnati, where Victoria Azarenka once again thwarted her in the summit clash. The 40-year-old then skipped the Wuhan Open, as she has done throughout her career, barring 2014.

Williams headed to the China Open, where she lifted the title, beating Jelena Jankovic in the final.

Therefore, had Williams won in Qatar and Cincinnati, she would have won seven WTA 1000 events in a row.