"I know Ash is a big fan of Swiatek" - Pat Rafter on world number one
WTA
Two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter has revealed that Ashleigh Barty admires the WTA world No. 1 Iga Siwatek.
Barty and Swiatek's rivalry could have become one of the best in tennis history. Unfortunately, they only played twice before Barty shocked the tennis world by retiring in March this year. The Australian won both their meetings.
Their second and last meeting was at this year's Adelaide International. Barty's comfortable 6-2, 6-4 triumph in that match makes her one of the very few players to overcome Swiatek by a wide margin in a match this year.
Swiatek was named the 2022 WTA Player of the Year after winning two Grand Slams, seven titles overall, and finishing as the year-end No. 1. The Pole overtook Barty at No. 1 in April after she had retired from the sport.
This year's French Open and US Open champion plans to start her 2023 season at the United Cup, a team event featuring ATP and WTA stars held in Australia that also allows players to represent their countries in a fun and entertaining environment.
Rafter, a former world No. 1, is looking forward to watching Swiatek play in his home country again. The 2000 and 2001 Wimbledon runner-up praised Swiatek's game and mentioned that Barty is a big fan of her.
“Swiatek is a great player. I saw [her play] a lot because I watched a lot of Ash [Barty] playing. So whenever I watched Ash as well, they were coming up against each other, and she's had a really great year."
“She's got a lot of smarts about her, she's one of those girls that I thought had that sort of X element part of the game and by all accounts is a really lovely girl as well. I know Ash is a really big fan of hers, so she'll be great to have here."
