Iga Swiatek is one of the best players in the world right now, thanks to a combination of talent and hard work, something she shares with her idol, Rafael Nadal.
Swiatek was never considered this outragedly talented player who was supposed to win multiple Grand Slams. Yet that's exactly what happened when she became a pro, and she's certainly going to win a few more because her competitive spirit doesn't allow her to rest.
She got her first one as a teenager, stunning several prominent clay experts at Roland Garros. That run was incredibly impressive because nobody really came close to beating her that year. She added one more last year by beating Gauff in the final and one more this year by beating Karolina Muchova in the final.
She won the US Open last year as well, so it's pretty clear that none of this is a fluke. She's talented, but most of it comes from her hard work, which she shares with her idols. In a recent interview, Swiatek mentioned her idols - Rafael Nadal and Martina Navratilova.
I had the chance to talk to Martina Navratilova about technique. Her knowledge and everything she has achieved in the sport is indescribable. When I played my first junior Grand Slam at the age of 15, it became clear that Rafael Nadal is one of my heroes.
Nadal especially, is the one she looks up to most because she just loves how he plays and his mentality of never giving up. On top of that, he remained very humble, something she aspires to do as well.
He never gives up, he represents the right values and he’s kept his feet on the ground. He’s still the same even though he’s so successful. That’s what I particularly like about him.
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