“Really happy that Nadal and Osaka are coming back” – Swiatek

The Pole is also looking forward to playing the Paris Olympics at Roland-Garros and teaming up with Hubert Hurkacz

Iga Swiatek

December 22, 2023

After finishing 2023 on a strong note, world No 1 Iga Swiatek is looking ahead to the new season for more than one reason. The Pole will be gunning to add more Grand Slams to her tally and complete her career Grand Slam set.

But the 22-year-old is also excited to see tennis champions Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka back on the court in January. Nadal will return in Brisbane after a year on the sidelines due to injury while Osaka is coming back after giving birth to her first child and Swiatek is just as excited as the rest of us are.

“I really like to watch them, so just from a fan perspective I’m really happy that they are coming back and I’m going to be able to see their game,” Swiatek told The National in Abu Dhabi where she is playing the World Tennis League this week.

Getting a medal there would be a dream come true for sure.
Iga Swiatek

“Rafa obviously is a huge inspiration for me, so I just hope he’s going to play nicely. Naomi, we may play against each other, so it’s pretty funny but I’m happy that she’s back and she could fulfil her other goals and now come back to playing tennis. I’m just curious how they’re going to play, if they’re going to be rusty or not but obviously they are both really experienced so I hope they’re going to go well.”

2024 is also an Olympics year and Swiatek is also excited about the prospect of playing for a medal at Roland-Garros and teaming up in mixed doubles with countryman Hubert Hurkacz.

“For sure (it’s a big goal). We’re going to have some time to think about that before the clay season obviously. But for now, I’m just thinking about Australia and trying not to go too far because the season is long and a lot of things can happen,” she said. “But I’m really happy that I have the opportunity to play some mixed doubles with Hubi (Hurkacz) and to test it out and practise a little bit before the Olympics because getting a medal there would be a dream come true for sure.”

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