A few days ago, the tennis world witnessed a heartwarming moment at the Madrid Open. After Rafael Nadal defeated Pedro Cachin in the Madrid Open’s third round, he requested to take Nadal’s t-shirt. And the five-time Madrid Open champion obliged. However, what followed was a divided opinion regarding the act in the tennis community. But the former World No. 1, Daniil Medvedev, shared his candid reflections on the matter, calling it “pretty fun.”

Although over the last century, exchanging jerseys among football players has become a common thing, it has not been the same with tennis. But when Cachin said, “You have fulfilled a dream for me. Can I keep your shirt or something of yours?” after his match against Rafael Nadal, the whole tennis world understood his emotions. And Daniil Medvedev, who just ended his quarterfinal run at the Madrid Open, also reflected on the “souvenir” incident.

Finding it amusing and refreshing at the same time, he said, “That was pretty fun, from Pedro. I felt like it was a classy move, which we don’t have in tennis. I don’t think I ever had it.” Also he further added how he encountered a similar situation in his career. But his response to the incident was different. “I don’t think I gave him because I had like five T-shirts, it was like in Australia or US Open, one of the two, and it was humid and I said, ‘Look, after the tournament ask me and I’ll do it no problem.”

He further highlighted why he would not want to have anyone’s t-shirt after the match. “I would start collecting, five, 10, here and there,” he stated. He concluded by saying, “Not my thing to do with one person. So I would collect a lot, if it became a thing.”

The whole incident has sparked quite a debate in the tennis world. Especially after a renowned journalist, David Law commented, “asking for your opponents shirt on the net ain’t it”. However, fans took the side of Cachin and expressed their dissatisfaction with the whole incident. And adding to that, even Iga Swiatek came in support of the incident and shared her thoughts on the same.

“I would ask for a T-shirt,” says Iga Swiatek about Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has bid goodbye to his Madrid Open tournament after his defeat against Jiri Lehecka. But the tennis world isn’t ready to forget the historic “souvenir” moment during his third round victory. The current WTA No. 1, Iga Swiatek, also expressed her wish to make the same gesture if there was a chance. “If I would play against Rafa, for sure I would ask for a T-shirt,” she said.

Swiatek has always admired Nadal and considered him his idol growing up. Just a few days ago, she even came in support for the Spaniard, taking a stand against the growing expectations among fans to play amid Nadal’s injuries. When asked about her idol’s last tournament, she quickly responded that it was entirely his decision and said how “it’s being hard for him”. Therefore, when it came to support him during the latest match, Swiatek made his stand clear. And as the ever evolving sport of tennis progresses, it will be interesting to see whether players follow Daniil Medvedev’s approach or Iga Swiatek’s.