Us Open Champion Iga Swiatek Raves About ‘Infectious Fighting Spirit” of Idol and 22-Time Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal

Iga Swiatek, the current World No. 1, has nothing but praise for Rafael Nadal, the “Clay King.” Prior to the US Open, the duo had the opportunity to play mixed doubles at a charity event. Swiatek discusses how the Spaniard’s historic win in Melbourne inspired her to play incredible tennis in order to have a successful season.

Rafael Nadal is an idol for Swiatek.

In an interview with Vogue Magazine following her US Open victory, the Pole star talked about the inspiration she gets from her idol, Rafael Nadal, and how that teaches her to be a resilient player.

She went on to describe how incredible it was to share the same side of the court with the 22-time Grand Slam champion while playing mixed doubles at a charity event for peace and exhibition. “It was pretty amazing,” she said. However, she stated that playing alongside her hero was an exhilarating experience for her. Especially since it was for such a wonderful cause about which she has been publicly speaking.

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Swiatek further added that it wasn’t her first time playing with Nadal. She got to play singles with him at Roland Garros a couple of years ago as a birthday present from her team. The Polish regards Nadal as a wonderful person both on and off the court, and  finds his fighting spirit to be infectious, as his victory over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open didn’t come easy.

The Spanish ace, has similarly lauded the Pole prodigy after playing alongside her. He said that she is an inspiration to everyone, including himself, and that he admires her for her modesty.

The French Open maestros delighted their fans by defeating the John McEnroe-Coco Gauff duo 10-8 in the 10-point tiebreak match.

Iga Swiatek, the rising tennis sensation

The 21-year-old tennis star’s meteoric rise to the top in such a short period of time is admirable. She won the French Open at the age of 19, becoming the second-youngest women’s singles champion after Monica Seles. She has won in Qatar, Rome, and Indian Wells before returning to the French Open for the second time. Ashleigh Barty‘s retirement in March vaulted her to the top of the WTA rankings.

Her 37-match winning streak ended at Wimbeldon. French veteran, Alize Cornet, dismissed her in straight sets. Then after, she was knocked out early at Torronto and Cincinnati. These losses, hence, did not guarantee her win at the US Open this year. But in the final, she defeated her opponent, Ons Jabeur, to claim the title for herself.

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