‘I Was Crying the Whole Evening’ – Iga Swiatek Reveals Emotional Reaction to Rafael Nadal’s Defeat to Novak Djokovic at French Open 2021

Iga Swiatek, the Polish tennis professional and reigning World Number 1, is currently making records left, right and center. Even though Swiatek is holding the highest-ranking and is riding high on a monstrous form, she is still a tennis fan at heart. She is still humble enough to admire and learn from the greats of tennis, such as the Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

Swiatek recently claimed her second French Open title, an honor she might later share with her role model, Rafael Nadal. Therefore, while addressing the press, the Pole spoke about the Spaniard and how his defeat at last year’s event saddened her.

Iga Swiatek about Rafael Nadal

Swiatek defeated the American teenage star, Coco Gauff, in the final of Roland Garros. Later, she spoke about the champion’s mentality, citing Nadal. She said, “I feel like all these great champions they kind of accept that they may lose. I remember last year when Rafa lost in semifinals I met him next day, coincidence, on the breakfast in the hotel. I said to him that I was crying basically the whole evening because he lost and he was just sitting like it’s just a tennis match. You win, you lose, it’s normal.”

Thereafter the two-time Grand Slam champion added, “Just something it’s pretty easy but not everybody can do that. Treat those big moments as another match and that’s something special. Because it seems like when he is playing, when Novak is playing, they are just, you know, tennis players who are playing their sport and sometimes having fun honestly. And facing challenges but not really thinking about the whole world.”

Read more: ‘Its Never Comfortable’ – Iga Swiatek Opens Up About the Adversities of Night Matches at French Open 2022

The 2020 champion thrashed Coco Gauff in straight sets of 6-1 6-3 to claim her second title at French Open. Further, Rafael Nadal will seek to win his 22nd Grand Slam and 14th French Open title later today.

Swiatek in this year’s clay season

After winning both the events at summer doubles, the Pole stepped on to the clay courts. Swiatek started her season by defeating former World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in finals of the Stuttgart Open, 6-2 6-2. Thereafter, she kept out of the Madrid Open to give herself some well-deserved rest.

A week later, she stormed the clay courts of the Italian Open and defeated the 2022 Madrid Open champion, Ons Jabeur. She outclassed the Tunisian in straight sets of 6-2 6-2.

Watch this story: Meghan Markle and Serena Williams’ friendship over the years

Following that, the WTA No.1 tested herself in France. Apart from the 19-year-old Chinese rising star, Zheng Qinwen, none of her opponents made it to the third set. Along with clinching the title, the scintillating Pole also recorded her 35th consecutive win, equaling Venus Williams’ record.