Iga Swiatek doesn’t want her idol Rafael Nadal to play at the 2024 French Open owing to the Spaniard’s struggle with injury. Nadal picked up a hip injury during his early-round exit from the 2024 Australian Open in January and since then, he has not been able to get back to competitive tennis.
He had previously set his name down for the Monte-Carlo Masters and Madrid Open but withdrew from the tournaments. The 36-year-old is also not featuring at the ongoing 2024 Italian Open.
“I’m a big Rafa fan. I wish he could play. I really respect the kind of warrior he is. He’s always trying to push and trying to get better and play better and just trying to compete at the highest level,” Swiatek told reporters in Rome on Friday after her second-round win at the Italian Open. Also Read: Novak Djokovic Vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry Match Prediction, Head-To-Head, Preview, And Live Stream | Italian Open
“I don’t know how much pain he’s living with. I don’t want to see him suffering a lot. I’m biased because I’d love to see him play, but on the other hand, I know if he’s going to really suffer, it’s not going to be fun to see him like that.”
Swaitek hopes to see the 14-time French Open winner “healthy and happy” notwithstanding his not participating at the French Open which is scheduled to start on May 28.
Iga Swiatek beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round
The Pole hammered 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-0 on Friday and would later lock horns with Lesia Tsurenko on Sunday.
The 21-year-old has played just one match against Tsurnko and won it as well. Notably, Swiatek is also the defending champion as she lifted the title last year by beating Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-2.
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