Swiatek: “Every tennis player should try to play like Rafa and Novak”

Iga Swiatek says that the women’s tour is faster and more aggressive than before – but every tennis player should try to emulate Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and prime both their attack and their defence.

Asked about whether attacking players had now overhauled the previously dominant counterpunchers, the world No 1 responded: “Well, but also there was Naomi (Osaka), right, and Serena (Williams) who played pretty strong game. So I don’t know. I don’t know if there is a change or not, but for sure, you know, I think we are overall like playing with more speed and physically we are ready to react faster, you know, so maybe this is why we play faster.

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“But I would say, you know, having both things combined and being able to do both, like, I don’t know, Rafa or Novak, they can play great in defense and, you know, kind of be patient and also they can attack well.

There are many girls right now who are playing fast serve and fast first ball

Iga Swiatek

“I think this should be the goal of every tennis player. You know, that’s why we are kind of working on both, but for sure there are many girls right now who are playing fast serve and fast first ball.”

The Pole has spoken many times before about her admiration for Nadal, calling him her “idol” and describing the chance to play doubles with him in an exhibition as “a dream come true”. They both won Roland-Garros the same year, in 2020.

She also had time for a wry joke: when asked for the worst thing about being a professional tennis player, she replied, “Jet lag,” and the best? “Money and travelling! Well, that’s kind of obvious. No?”

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