Iga Świątek is focused on her path to a fifth French Open title. But off the court, she has something to watch: Rafael Nadal’s Netflix documentary. Following a calendar mix-up by her coach, Francisco Roig, that caused her entire team to miss the red-carpet premiere of ‘Rafa,’ Świątek admitted she will binge the tribute to her childhood idol as much as anyone, though it will leave her in tears.
Iga Swiatek Explains How a Date Mix-Up Cost Her a Rafa Documentary Premiere
In a press conference following her first-round victory over Emerson Jones, Świątek revealed a comical team mix-up that caused her to miss the show’s premiere. The world No. 3 has always spoken about her idolization of the “King of Clay,” which also influenced her recent team changes.
When asked about whether she will watch the documentary, Świątek recalled the hilarious miscommunication during the Madrid Open last month:
“Francis told us in Madrid, ‘Hey, there’s this Rafa documentary premiere.’ The whole team got ready the night before with the outfits and everything… The premiere was actually just a few days ago, but Francis told us it was a month ago in Madrid. Everybody got ready, and then he said, ‘Oh, I messed up the dates.’ I was so sad.”
Despite missing out on the red carpet, Świątek is eager to watch the episodes now that they are streaming. But she knows that won’t help before a match.
“I’m going to watch it straight away. Unless I play the next day, because I will cry, so I need to plan it… I might cry on all of them! I would have loved to be at the premiere as well, but I couldn’t because of the planning mistake,” added the 24-year-old.
‘Rafa’ is a four-part Netflix series that documents the final chapter of Nadal’s tennis career. It takes a deep look at his intense year in 2024, balancing physical battles with injuries, his transition into fatherhood, and his ultimate decision to retire.
KEEP READING: Aryna Sabalenka’s Gucci Bag Under Investigation While Jannik Sinner’s Allowed: What We Know
Świątek is coming off an uncharacteristic slump that had some pundits questioning her form, including a first-round loss at the Miami Open this year. That’s when she decided to start training under coach Roig, the man who had coached Nadal for 17 years. In Madrid, she had to withdraw in the Round of 32 due to a stomach bug outbreak, but in Rome, she reached the semifinals. Now, on the Parisian clay, the four-time champion’s chances of lifting the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup are high.
The former world No. 1 will return to Court Philippe-Chatrier when she plays her second-round match on Wednesday, May 27, against Czechia’s Sara Bejlek.
