According to Świątek's Time profile, written by American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, the Polish tennis ace "as an athlete, and more importantly as a human ... embodies the kind of confidence that everyone should emulate—the confidence of action over mere talk."
"When Iga Świątek plays tennis, three things come to mind: beauty, power, and truth," Shiffrin wrote in her profile of the Polish world number one.
"Throughout her rise to the top of tennis—and the top of sport—Iga has shown vulnerability and courage," Shiffrin also said of Świątek. "She strives relentlessly to improve her game. She gives credit to those who have supported her, without discounting her own skills and work. She has advocated for mental health and supported Ukrainians in their fight to protect their home."
"To rise to the top of tennis with the limited resources she had coming from Poland is remarkable," Shiffrin wrote. "She has ignited a nation and given the next generation a reason to believe they can also achieve something incredible. She reminds us all that it’s OK to feel disappointment—and it’s also OK to feel proud of ourselves."
"When Iga walks out on the court, she puts her eye on the ball, and she doesn’t let it stray," Shiffrin concluded.
Świątek, who is coached by countryman Tomasz Wiktorowski, in April last year took over as world No. 1 in women's tennis, becoming the first Pole to top the world rankings.
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Source: PAP, time.com
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Piotr Miszczuk.