World No.2 Rafael Nadal is best known as a humble person other than his unique achievements. However, the Polish star Iga Swiatek revealed that she knows Spaniard is not only a tennis player and also a human as well.
The unseeded 19-years-old from Warsaw captured her first career and Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open after defeating three seeded players. Swiatek ultimately did not lose a single set in the entire seven matches while she just dropped 28 games.
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“The Only Player Who Fascinated Me Was Rafael Nadal”, says Iga Swiatek
In the middle of the Roland Garros last year, Iga Swiatek loudly unveiled her idol name, none other than Rafael Nadal, who is universally known to have more topspin on his forehand than the average player on tour.
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In a recent interview, Iga Swiatek was asked about her playing style, especially the high topspin forehand, reminiscent of men’s tennis.
“I play a lot with men because there aren’t too many women in Poland either. This allows me to develop faster as a player. I didn’t watch tennis too much when I was young,” Polish answered.
Swiatek also explained that “the only player who fascinated me was Rafael Nadal. I guess I copied my style of play from him. I like hitting the balls with a lot of topspin. My first trainer also told me that it was unusual for a girl to play with topspin. He advised me to focus on it because one day, it will be a great strength.”
“Nadal Is Humble and Has Stayed The Same Guy”: Swiatek
The 34-years-old from Manacor, who has never broken his equipment on the court, is the best example of staying the same in every situation.
When asked what is so special about Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek replied, “Since I now know him not only as a player but also as a person, I respect him even more as a person.”
World No.15 continued, “He’s humble and has stayed the same guy he was before winning so many titles. When I was young, I loved the way he looks and the energy he plays with.”(Quotes have been translated into English via Google translator)
At the 2021 Australian Open summer series, Rafael Nadal concluded his campaign after a quarterfinal loss at Melbourne major event. Simultaneously, Iga Swiatek claimed her first hardcourt title at the Adelaide International 2021 without leaving a set.