Paris – When Iga Swiatek’s voice broke throughout her victory speech on the Grand Slam stage, Chris Evert whispered one thing in her ear and Martina Navratilova gave her an encouraging smile. “I acquired a couple of suggestions from the professionals, I hope issues will enhance now,” mentioned the Pole, who regarded very intimidated as the 2 tennis icons had been laid out for him.
On the court docket, nevertheless, the French Open favourite confirmed a totally totally different facet for 2 weeks: dominant, self-confident, ruthless. This was additionally the case when she received the ultimate 6:2, 6:1 in opposition to the hopeless outsider Jasmine Paolini from Italy. In an nearly terrifying lead for the match, the 23-year-old grew to become the youngest four-time winner of the Grand Slam match on clay. “There is just one Queen of Paris!” wrote the Polish newspaper “Fakt”.
“For me he stands above everybody else, he is an absolute legend”
It is no surprise that parallels have lengthy been drawn with the large clay court docket king Rafael Nadal. Swiatek thinks the comparisons to the 14-time French Open winner are a bit exaggerated: “For me he is above everybody, he is an entire legend.” a sentence as quoted by Nadal”.
The winner of the five-time Grand Slam match is now so flattered as a result of the Spaniard has performed an important function. “Once I was younger, I preferred the way in which he regarded and the power he had,” Swiatek instructed “Tennismagazin”. Identical to Nadal in his greatest moments, the world primary doesn’t permit herself to be distracted even when it’s a match level in opposition to Naomi Osaka within the second spherical.
“We’ll see in 14 years if the journey is analogous”
And there’s one other factor in frequent with Nadal. “He is humble and he is remained the identical man he was earlier than he received so many titles,” Swiatek mentioned. Folks from the tennis circus additionally say comparable issues about Swiatek, who, regardless of his nice success, seems with none airs and pals. Throughout her victory speech, for instance, she didn’t overlook to want Paolini the perfect of luck in her doubles last on Sunday.
Swiatek, who beforehand received the key Masters 1000 tournaments on clay in Madrid and Rome, doesn’t wish to rule out a reign much like Nadal’s in Paris: “We are going to see in 14 years if the tour is analogous or not is.”
Swiatek surpasses Steffi Graf
The numbers and information are already spectacular. It was the third consecutive victory for Swiatek on the Stade Roland Garros, which was achieved by solely two different gamers within the historical past of the match: the Belgian Justine Henin (2005 to 2007) and the Serbian Monica Seles (1990 to) . 1992). Together with her twenty first consecutive victory on the French Open, she surpassed tennis icon Steffi Graf on this class.
“I like this place and I can not wait to return right here yearly,” mentioned Swiatek, ending his victory speech on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier with the phrases: “Thanks, see you subsequent 12 months”. its opponents have.
However the excellent news for Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Co.: Swiatek has but to get previous the quarterfinals on grass at Wimbledon.