Iga Swiatek speaks about her idol Rafael Nadal and his impact on her career.

At the 2019 French Open, Nadal won his twelfth title, something that particularly resonated with Świątek.

“I always watched him on TV and read about his successes. To me, he’s kind of a superhero," she said in an interview with CNN. Świątek has also discussed how Nadal’s drive and determination have had a direct influence on her success.

“He is my idol, not only because of his sporting achievements but mostly due to his attitude and approach to sports,” she said “I want to focus on the process and enjoy every match I play — that’s something I learned from him.”

Nadal’s influence is evident on Świątek’s career, with her determination and ambition enabling her to make history by becoming the youngest female French Open singles champion since Monica Seles in 1992.

Rafael Nadal has had an enormous influence on Iga Świątek’s career and sportsmanship. His success has provided her with a benchmark to aspire to, while his attitude towards the game teaches us all an important lesson.

As Świątek herself says: “You should never give up — that’s the most important lesson I’ve learned from Rafael Nadal.” This is a mantra that has served her well, and no doubt will continue to do so in the years to come.

It’s clear that his influence on Świątek is something she cherishes dearly, and his inspiring career is sure to continue influencing many more aspiring athletes. With the example of Rafael Nadal, it’s easy to understand why Iga Świątek has achieved so much success in such a short period of time.

The lessons she has learned from him will undoubtedly continue to guide her towards further greatness.