Iga Swiatek is a huge fan of Rafael Nadal. In the press conference during Roland Garros, the Pole said how Rafa has influenced her game, she isĀ not trying to imitate him.
The world number 1, who achieved her 30th consecutive victory by beating Alison Riske in two sets, explained: “Rafael Nadal has always been a role model for me, it’s not the first time I’ve said that. That doesn’t mean I spend my days writing down every detail of his game in a notebook and then trying to imitate him.
First of all, there is a difference of gender. We girls can’t play like our male colleagues, because they have a lot more power. For the rest, I’ve always wanted to give a lot of topspin to my shots and Nadal has influenced me in this respect.”
The Majorcan, for his part, won the first 20 games played in 2022. During the semifinal of the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, he suffered a stress fracture in a rib that forced him to miss the first appointments on red. As if that weren’t enough, the pain in his foot made itself felt again at the Italian Open 2022.
Rafael Nadal’s season
Rafael Nadal had a surprising start to the season to say the least, given his age and physical problems that had plagued him last season. Fresh from a long stop due to injury and arrived in Melbourne without great expectations, the Spanish champion has made one of the most unexpected feats of his entire career.
After surviving two real battles against Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini, the former world number 1 came back two sets behind Daniil Medvedev in the final. Thanks to that triumph, the 35-year-old from Manacor has hoisted himself to 21 Slams, overtaking Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the all-time ranking.
The Iberian has also become the fourth man in history to have won all the majors at least twice, along with Nole Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson.