With the Australian Open underway, everybody’s favorite stars are in the country. The biggest names in tennis like Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek, and Ashleigh Barty, among others, are competing in the Happy Slam, Down Under.

However, it isn’t just the fans who get excited about seeing their idols and favorite players. In fact, even players on the tour feel that way. Polish World No. 9 Iga Swiatek talked about how excited she felt about meeting her idol, Rafael Nadal, for the first time.

In an interview with BBC, Swiatek opened up about how she idolized the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

Iga Swiatek wants to be like Rafael Nadal

In her interview with BBC, the seventh-seed for the women’s singles at the Australian Open talked about role models in tennis. Swiatek shared how happy it made her to see little kids looking up to her, knowing that she might influence them in their lives.

In that vein, she reveals how she herself idolizes Spanish legend, Rafael Nadal. “I’m a big fan of Rafael Nadal,” Swiatek shared. Moreover, she expressed how it was “pretty cool” to meet him for the first time. He is “down-to-earth,” Iga said about Rafa.

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Furthermore, she shared her observations about Nadal, calling him “really humble”. To Iga, “it doesn’t seem like the success has changed him (Rafa)”. In fact, Swiatek hopes to be like her idol. If she were to have more success and more Grand Slams in her career, Swiatek hopes to “be like Rafa”.

Then, she shared how it felt to have practiced with Nadal last year at Roland Garros. So much so that Swiatek simply couldn’t stop smiling for five minutes when the two met. “It felt surreal,” the Polish star expressed.

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Moreover, Swiatek was all praises for Nadal’s forehand. Recalling how Rafa jested about his own forehand, Swiatek opined how “he has the best forehand ever, in my opinion.” Thus, she fondly recalls her journey from being a nervous rookie looking for Rafa’s autograph, to winning Roland Garros in 2020 and hitting with the greatest clay-court player ever the subsequent year, as fellow champions.

Rafa and Swiatek are both going strong at the Australian Open 2022

Both Rafa and Swiatek have been going strong in their Australian Open campaigns this year. The 20-time Grand Slam champion is now through to the quarter-final, where he will face Canadian Denis Shapovalov tomorrow.

On the other hand, Swiatek, too, has momentum on her side as she will face former World No. 21 Sorana Cirstea in the fourth round.

Shapovalov, who caused a shock upset by knocking out third seed Alexander Zverev, will surely be in for a challenge as he faces a resurgent Rafa.

Shapovalov and Rafa have met each other four times and Rafa has won 3 out of 4 of those matches. Do you think the Canadian will be able to shock the world again tomorrow, or will Rafa prevail?

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