Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek chooses the greatest player of all time
Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek is one of the most dominant players in the women's circuit. She also has a clear stance on the GOAT debate.
Iga Swiatek has become one of the most dominant players in tennis. The Polish star won her first five Grand Slam finals, becoming the first woman to do so since Monica Seles, and reached the world No. 1 ranking, holding the position for 125 weeks. As she continues to build her legacy, she has a clear GOAT she aims to emulate: Rafael Nadal.
Swiatek, known as the Queen of Clay, has never hidden her preference for Nadal in the GOAT debate. After winning the French Open in 2024—her fourth title and third consecutive victory in Paris—she explained how the Spaniard, a 14-time champion at Roland Garros, has been a major inspiration.
“Watching Rafa is always great. I just, you know, look at how he moves, how he plays. Obviously, he’s probably not at the same level as he was a few years ago, but he remains really inspiring, even with everything he’s been dealing with,” she said, referring to his injuries. “It must be pretty hard, but he endures it with such great elegance. He’s the GOAT for me,” she admitted.
In 2024, after Nadal announced his retirement from tennis, Swiatek paid tribute to him in a heartfelt video message. “You were and still are the biggest inspiration I ever had in tennis and the reason why I sometimes found extra motivation to keep pushing myself,” she said.
“Thank you for that and for being such an amazing person off the court as well. Your humility is something you don’t often see among athletes who have achieved so much,” she added. “You’re someone who always stayed honest and true to yourself. Thank you for being a genuinely good person.”
