Comparisons with her idol Rafael Nadal may be distinctly premature but Iga Swiatek has taken another step towards establishing her own dynasty at Roland Garros with a third title on Saturday.
The Pole has only suffered two defeats on the Parisian clay, winning her first title as an unseeded teenager in 2020 then reclaiming it last year.
Swiatek is yet to drop a set this year – although she was pushed hard in the semi-finals by Beatriz Haddad Maia – and Czech Karolina Muchova for her fourth grand slam title overall.
“Rafa, what he did and what he’s still doing, it’s pretty amazing,” said the 22-year-old.
“So it was totally out of my reach. And still he played so well so many years. I don’t know if it’s going to be possible for me. But I just try to compete, keep it cool year by year and just do everything step by step.”
“I think I have it like that in everything in life, I don’t really want to be like anyone else,” she said.
