Iga Swiatek takes up Andy Murray's offer to meet at Indian Wells
While she didn't practice with the former world No. 1, the Pole greeted the three-time major champion Saturday afternoon on Practice Court 14.
INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—At Roland Garros this year, Iga Swiatek had the opportunity to hit with Rafael Nadal for the first time. It was an experience the 20-year-old hadn't expected after her sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz arranged the practice as a birthday surprise.
“I was pretty stressed at the beginning, because I wasn’t sure I would be able to talk to him normally,” Swiatek told Steve Weissman during her Tennis Channel Live appearance on Friday following an opening-round win over Petra Martic at Indian Wells. “I learned that he’s a really normal guy and that’s the best part of it.”
With Nadal absent from the BNP Paribas Open, it eliminated any chance of the two following up with a sequel session in the desert. When asked who she would most like to hit with next, Swiatek selected another former world No. 1, Andy Murray.
“We’ll put it out there, speak it into existence,” Weissman said.
Murray responded to a clip of Swiatek’s interview on Twitter later Friday, inviting the No. 2 seed to come to his 3 p.m. practice Saturday.
Sure enough, Swiatek promptly showed up to Practice Court 14 for the opportunity to greet Murray after working out earlier in the day. The three-time major champion was tardy, though the Pole patiently waited by conversing with the Scot’s coach, Jamie Delgado.
When Murray arrived, the two shook hands before sitting for a brief chat. Both appeared to enjoy each other’s company, looking like old friends.
“He also seems like such a nice guy. Good sense of humor,” Swiatek assessed going in.
Murray, who earlier this week lost his tennis sneakers and wedding ring before they were returned, was presented a phenomenal gift from an insightful fan. We'll let the tweet do all the explaining.