'My idol' - Iga Swiatek says she is taking inspiration from Rafa Nadal as she weighs up her future
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 20/04/2022 at 17:44 GMT
Iga Swiatek says Rafa Nadal is her inspiration as she looks to continue her remarkable career trajectory. The 20-year-old won the sunshine double of Indian Wells and Miami in March, and ascended to world No. 1 following the retirement of Ash Barty. And she revealed the legendary Spaniard's approach to tennis is helping her keep calm as she contends with her new-found status.
"My tennis is going the right way" - Swiatek on attaining world no.1 ranking
Iga Swiatek says Rafa Nadal's approach to tennis is what she plans to model her career on.
The 20-year-old Pole - who became No. 1 last month following the retirement of Ash Barty - has sparkled so far in 2022, landing a stunning sunshine double by winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.
She now goes into the clay-court season - her favourite surface - as one of the leading contenders to win what would be her second Roland Garros title after her first in 2020.
And legendary Spaniard Nadal - who holds the most majors in the men's game with 21 - is the person Swiatek is looking to mimic as she eyes longer-term success.
Speaking to Eurosport France, Swiatek said: "Mostly, [I see my career plan as] like Rafa. I feel closest to this approach. I want to focus on my day-to-day work. It's important, it's the most clear situation for me.
"If I start thinking about records, or 'I want to be the first in this, the first to do that', it's not good for me. I don't want to be like I'm always chasing something.
"So focus on the day-by-day, the next match. It helps me to stay calm. Don't waste energy on other stuff.
"But everyone is different so I can also understand Novak [Djokovic's] way [of openly declaring which records he wants to break].
"A lot of things have already happened especially in the last couple of weeks so I need to stay focussed on the next tournament.
"If I think about the whole season, it will be a little bit too much for me. I need to stay calm."
Swiatek - who goes into this week's Stuttgart Open on a 19-match winning streak - says Nadal is not just her inspiration looking ahead from now, but was also responsible for the person she is today - and even the way she plays.
Swiatek said: "In everyday life, I think my sister had the biggest influence because she was the one I was watching everyday. I wanted to be like her, like every younger sibling.
"But Rafa for sure he inspired me a lot. I had a lot of fun watching him play on TV. Basically, his mental strength is the main thing I wanted to take from him.
I wanted to play topspin like him, too. He is the reason why I play like this.
"Rafa has always been my idol. I have pretty sad memories of Roland Garros last year because I was crying when Rafa lost against Novak.
"But two years ago, I was watching the final. I had the trophy photoshoot [after she won the women's title]. I was wearing this really nice long dress and went to see the final [Nadal-Djokovic] like this.
"It was nice because I didn't get the chance to see Rafa play so often. I wanted to use that occasion."
- - -
Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement