'You know you can’t back down,' Iga Swiatek explains how Madrid final against Aryna Sabalenka gave her a lot more than the trophy

The 22-year-old has now won every important WTA trophy on clay courts, having previously lifted the titles at Roland Garros, Rome Open, and the Stuttgart Open. This was the Pole’s third victory this season and overall her 20th career title. Eight of these titles came on clay.

The victory made Swiatek the youngest player since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012 to bag 20 WTA titles. After the match, Swiatek said the battle against Sabalenka gave her a lot more than the trophy.

If you have such a good competition, you know you can't back down. You always have to work harder and harder. I don't know about Rome and Roland Garros, but this match is going to give me a lot of wisdom.  Iga Swiatek told TennisONE 

Swiatek will next play in the upcoming Rome Open, which she won in 2022 by beating Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Last year, the Pole lost in the quarterfinal to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. 

Iga Swiatek reveals what motivated her during the match 

Rafael Nadal is Iga Swiatek’s idol, and he gave her the hope to overcome the formidable Aryna Sabalenka in the final. After the match, Swiatek revealed she drew inspiration from Nadal’s match against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final. It was Nadal’s ability to cope with stress and tension during that match that gave her hope. 

I remember when he played against Medvedev in Australia and something clicked. He also suffered from being tense and from stress. I'm not sure because I haven't talked to him, but I've felt that. That has given me hope.  Iga Swiatek said after the match

In that intense Australian Open final match, Nadal made one of the greatest comebacks after losing the first two sets, to take home his 21st Grand Slam trophy after five hours and 24 minutes with a 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 scoreline.