The Roland Garros champion: “My idol is Nadal”

The last edition of Roland Garros saw the surprising Iga Swiatek, a semi-unknown only 19 years old, be crowned the women's champion. Little by little more details of this player are known, who aims to be a figure on the circuit in the coming years. Recently, in an interview for EsentiallySports, revealed who his great idol is.

Swiatek has references in his own country, without going any further Agnieszka Radwanska, who became number two in the world and played a Wimbledon final in 2012. But his main example to follow in sports is male and his name is Rafa Nadal. “Aga (Radwanska's affectionate nickname) was not my idol because I watched more men's tennis and Nadal's matches,” he said.

Even so, Swiatek credits Radwanska with having been “an inspiration” to many Polish players, proof that “with little funding” you can reach “the highest level”. “It has shown that you can do it alone and that it is worth fighting for,” he said.