Recently, the new Wimbledon women's singles champion and former world number one Swiatek transformed into a fan of Alcaraz during an interview, openly expressing her admiration for the Spanish talent and stating that she too wants to be a player like him.
“I must say, Alcaraz inspires me greatly.” The Polish star candidly mentioned in an interview with Sky Sports: “I really wish I could play like Alcaraz; he always enjoys the game on the court, but sometimes I find it hard to do that.”
It’s worth noting that this “fan-like” expression of admiration was not a spur-of-the-moment decision for Swiatek. When she won the Wimbledon title a month ago, she mentioned that to learn how to slide on grass, she repeatedly studied Alcaraz's movement videos just to “learn from him.”
At that time, she discussed in an interview: “I mainly observed Carlos, Jannik, and Novak, analyzing how they handle their sliding timing. But it still requires immense confidence, and it was the numerous grass court events this year that truly helped me master it.”
This targeted learning has completely transformed her competitiveness on grass: during the women’s singles quarter-finals against Samsonova, Swiatek showcased fluid sliding shots that amazed the media, with comments like, “She has finally unlocked her grass court genes!”
Swiatek’s admiration for Alcaraz is not blind worship; besides technical learning, much of it comes from the psychological inspiration she draws from him.
During this year's Sunshine Double, Swiatek admitted that she often feels pressure on the court, saying, “When the surrounding pressures and off-court matters pile up, you forget the pure love for tennis you had as a child and instead carry the heavy burden of winning for others.” Coincidentally, Alcaraz’s constant emphasis on “enjoying the game” has become her remedy: “When Carlos talks about these things, it always gives me an important reminder; otherwise, my mind just gets stuck in an endless loop of ‘work, work, work.’”
This shift in mindset proved effective during Wimbledon. Although she modestly stated before the tournament that “winning was not a goal,” the light-hearted Swiatek ultimately claimed her first Rosewater Dish with a dominant performance, losing only one set, and her Grand Slam final winning percentage soared to an incredible 6-0.
“Iga has demonstrated a true champion's mindset—her observation checklist (Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic) includes the three most dominant players on grass today, and this targeted learning is more efficient than closed-door training,” commented a seasoned netizen.
However, it’s important to note that Swiatek’s choice of idols is always based on pragmatism; for instance, although she is also a “fan” of Nadal, she clearly distinguishes: “I don’t mimic Rafa’s style of play; I admire his demeanor, and the physical differences between male and female players mean techniques cannot be directly copied.”
“Alcaraz has said he refuses to learn Djokovic's sliding style because ‘that's not my style,’ and in a similar vein, Swiatek learns not the specific actions but the problem-solving logic of top players,” commented a renowned coach in the tennis world on Swiatek’s statements.
Swiatek’s remarks about Alcaraz have been interpreted as a mutual appreciation among top players, so when Swiatek smiles and says, “I want to be a player like Carlos,” what we see is not just the power of an idol but also a gentle tribute from one era to another.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)