World number one
Iga Swiatek has revealed that she would’ve asked
for the t-shirt of
Rafael Nadal if she had played against him. The
37-year-old is often regarded as one of the greatest players currently playing
in the men’s singles category, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal has struggled with injuries in the recent past and it
was because of this reason he announced back in 2023 that the 2024 season would
be his last at the highest level. The former world number one participated in
the ongoing
Madrid Open where after his third-round win, his opponent in the
contest Pedro Cachin asked him for his t-shirt.
Swiatek, who herself is playing in the mega-event, was
recently quoted in a report where she stated that she did not find anything wrong
with Cachin asking for the shirt as she would’ve done exactly the same. “If I
would play against Rafa, for sure I would ask for a T-shirt,” she said. “But
that’s not possible.” Nadal’s journey in the mega-event finally came to an end
on Tuesday as he lost in the round of 16 to young Czech tennis star Jiri Lehecka
in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4.