“If I played against Rafa, for sure I would ask for a T-shirt” – Swiatek approves of Cachin gesture

Iga Swiatek has revealed that she too would ask for a t-shirt from Rafael Nadal if she were ever to play the Spaniard in a competitive match.

After Nadal’s epic victory over Pedro Cachin at the Madrid Open yesterday, Cachin surprised the tennis world by doing something rarely – if ever – done before after a competitive match.

The Argentine thanked Nadal for making his dreams come true before asking if he could have one of the Spaniard’s t-shirts as a souvenir of their meeting on Nadal’s hallowed turf.

Of course, Nadal duly obliged.

Asked about the exchange in her post-match press conference following her win over Beatriz Haddad Maia today, the WTA’s world No 1 revealed she would have done the same.

“If I would play against Rafa, for sure I would ask for a T-shirt,” she said, smiling.

“But that’s not possible.”

As a lifelong fan of the 14-time Roland-Garros champion, Swiatek may yet see her wish granted.

While she will never face Nadal in a competitive singles match, doubles is always a possibility.

Poland versus Spain mixed doubles in the Olympics, anyone?