Swiatek took inspiration from Rafa during his return to Madrid for the ages

Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday, May 5, 2024

How Iga Swiatek Withstand the tests of an in-form Aryna Sabalenka and hold off the pressure to secure three championship points en route to a dramatic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) triumph in Madrid?

Breaking free and taking a page from the King of Clay's playbook.

The world number one says she took inspiration from Rafael NadalAn incredible return to the final of the 2022 Australian Open, where the Spaniard overcame a two-set deficit and a break to defeat Daniil Medevev to claim his 21st major title.

“I definitely remember him playing Medvedev in Australia and he was hooked,” Swiatek told reporters after winning her 20th title. “He was also struggling for a while, he was tense and I think he was stressed.

“It gave me hope that maybe it would work, even after two hours.”

Nadal has also made great comebacks in Madrid, such as when he saved three match points to defeat Djokovic in Madrid in 2009, in one of the best matches of this iconic rivalry.

Rafael Nadal 🤝 Iga Swiatek

Receive three match points in a Madrid classic against one of his biggest rivals at the age of 22. pic.twitter.com/2fa2Ny8SKd

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 4, 2024

Swiatek, who now has a mind-blowing 71-10 record on clay in her career, said she didn't really feel her game on Saturday the same way as she had in previous rounds. The Pole achieved success, losing only 20 games in five matches and reaching the final. But the challenges Sabalenka presented with her heavy, bold shots, and the intensity of the high-stakes final, left the 22-year-old a little unsettled.

Swiatek said it took her several sets to really find her comfort zone in the match. Even then, she had to fight and save three match points to win.

“For most of the match I was really trying to relax a little bit,” she said. “I felt I could play better because in previous matches I played better here. It was difficult to do this, and also to work on how to play against Arina. So I had a lot of thoughts and a lot of work going through my head.”

Welcome to family!@iga_swiatek with the Madrid Open trophy, the latest addition to her clay season collection. pic.twitter.com/NyxHN97v0T

—Photo by Jimmie48 (@JJlovesTennis) May 4, 2024

Facing Sabalenka in Madrid, where she has been so dominant in fast-paced conditions, is a unique challenge and one Swiatek will no doubt gain confidence from overcoming.

“Arina is a really strong player and when it comes to the game, you make a lot of defensive plays. It was certainly a challenge today,” she said.

“But I think it was more about who would be less stressed and who would be able to play with more freedom. I think she actually played more… bolder for most of the match. Sometimes I was a little behind. So at the end of the day, I just wanted to not do it and be brave.”