WATCH: Iga Swiatek wins hearts with kind gesture, hand-delivers birthday gift to fan at Indian Wells
Iga Swiatek's heartwarming gesture of hand-delivering a match ball to a lucky fan on her birthday has captured the attention of people worldwide and won the hearts of her fans.
Swiatek commenced her campaign at the 2023 Indian Wells Open with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 triumph over American tennis player Claire Liu in the second round on Saturday. The Pole is looking to successfully defend her title at the WTA 1000 tournament.
After the victory, the three-time Grand Slam champion hand picked a lucky fan from the crowd to give one of the match balls to, after finding out that it was her birthday from the stadium announcer. Touched by the gesture, the fan looked on the verge of tears after receiving the memorable gift from the three-time Grand Slam champion.
A birthday gift, delivered by the world No.1 😁
#TennisParadise | @iga_swiatek https://t.co/x7qx4Q5Day
Meanwhile, the 21-year old's 2023 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride so far, following her incredible 2022 season where she reached the pinnacle of her career as the World No. 1. During that time, she also managed to secure eight title wins and an impressive 37-match winning streak between the Qatar Open and the Wimbledon Championships, marking the longest unbeaten run of the 21st century..
Iga Swiatek will want to replicate the strong run from last year as she moves forward at Indian Wells.
"I can play in any conditions" - Iga Swiatek on the playing conditions at Indian Wells
During her post-match press conference, Iga Swiatek shared her thoughts on the playing conditions she is facing at the 2023 Indian Wells Open.
The Indian Wells Open offers both day and night sessions, and players must contend with unpredictable weather conditions such as wind and heat. With so much variability from day to day, it can be a challenging environment for even the most seasoned athletes.
When asked about how she copes with these tough conditions, Iga Swiatek shared that her experience playing in the tournament last year taught her that she can perform well under any circumstances. She also declared that she believes in her ability to adapt to any conditions and rise to the challenge.
"This tournament last year showed me that I can play in any conditions, and I believe a little bit more that I can adjust to any conditions. Sometimes it's going to be more smooth; sometimes not," she said.
The Pole reflected on the playing conditions she faced during the final match of last year's tournament. Despite the challenges posed by the wind, Swiatek considered herself fortunate to have only faced moderate conditions.
She acknowledged the more severe winds that Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz had to contend with in 2022, happy that that wasn't the case when she was playing. Additionally, Swiatek is confident that her recent experience in Doha has demonstrated her ability to cope with windy conditions.
"Last year I remember I was lucky to only play the final in the wind, but I remember that match Rafa against Carlos, right? Wow. Like, I don't know what I would do honestly. But also, Doha showed me that I can cope with wind anyway," Iga Swiatek said.
Iga Swiatek will next face former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in the third round at Indian Wells.