World No. 2 Iga Świątek has unexpectedly found her way from tennis courts to the eerie forests of Castor Woods in the new survival horror game Dying Light: The Beast. The newly released survival horror includes a clear reference to Poland’s top tennis player.
Among the weapons players can find is a one-handed mace designed to look like Świątek’s tennis racket, with a special in-game description. This addition offers an unexpected crossover between professional tennis and video gaming, connecting the fans from both genres.
Why is Iga Świątek’s Tennis Racket Appearance in Dying Light: The Beast So Special?
In Dying Light: The Beast, players can discover the Legendary One-Handed Mace, fashioned to resemble Świątek’s racket, hanging on a wall. Its inscription, “Queen of the clay, killer on the grass,” refers to her success on clay – four French Open titles – and her recent triumph at Wimbledon, where she won the championship without dropping a single game in the final.
The phrase highlights her adaptability: on clay, she uses heavy topspin and strong defense, while on grass, she plays with precision and power.
Iga Swiatek’s racquet is in the new horror game, Dying Light: The Beast.
“Queen of the clay, killer on the grass.”
ICONIC. pic.twitter.com/dNfhfMVope
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 26, 2025
The game, developed and published by Techland, is a standalone 2025 release that was originally planned as DLC for Dying Light 2: Stay Human. Set in the quarantined forests of Castor Woods, it combines exploration with intense melee combat against infected creatures.
Players navigate varied zones, ranging from misty resorts to abandoned villages, using weapons and environmental tactics to survive. Legendary-grade weapons serve as powerful Easter eggs that reward exploration and puzzle-solving.
Techland, which is also a Polish company, honored Świątek through a small nod inside the game. The mace not only serves as a powerful weapon in the game’s melee combat but also celebrates her impact on and off the court.
Players can locate the racket in the Golden Pine region in Castor Woods. It can be found in the attic inside an unmarked house near the northeast edge of Golden Pine. The racket hangs on the far wall, glowing to indicate its rarity inside the game.
In another sports-gaming collaboration, Ben Shelton’s girlfriend and U.S. soccer forward Trinity Rodman graced the cover of EA Sports FC 26 from Electronic Arts. Rodman’s appearance marks her first major video game cover and Shelton, reacted to her appearance on the cover of the game with a one-word comment.
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