For aspiring tennis players, there is always a legendary player that they look up to while growing up, and Iga Swiatek's case is no different.
Except that Swiatek has multiple role models within the tennis landscape. The Pole has emerged as the most dominant champion of her generation. Since becoming World No. 1 for the first time in April 2022, Swiatek has captured the most Grand Slams, with three to go with her 2020 French Open.
She is on course to attain 100 weeks as the top-ranked WTA player and cement her spot in the Top 10 of the all-time list. Last year, she won the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, for the first time and set the record for the fewest games conceded in the tournament (20).
This year, Swiatek became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the same tournament for three successive seasons when she triumphed at the Qatar Open. She added a second WTA 1000 title by scooping the Indian Wells title a fortnight ago.
Although Swiatek's bid to emulate Steffi Graf in winning the Sunshine Double multiple times hit a brick wall (she lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova), she heads to the clay season with her head held high.
Recently, she sat down for an interview with Tennis365 in which she mentioned four tennis players who have indirectly had a major influence on her career.
The 22-year-old stated that 22-time Grand Slam champion and ATP star Rafael Nadal was her idol while growing up. She explains that the Spaniard's work ethic and humility are two attributes she picked up while watching him.
Furthermore, Swiatek singled out WTA legend Steffi Graf for her outlook on the sport and the Williams sisters for being pioneers of change in women's tennis.
"Rafael Nadal was my idol from a very young age and inspired me to work hard and stay humble. Steffi Graf for her pursuit of excellence and intense presence on court."
"Serena and Venus Williams for shaping our game in the way we [play] it today and changing it on so many levels."