Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart: From clay court to carpool karaoke!

STUTTGART—It's no secret that Iga Swiatek is the undisputed clay-court master on the women's tour. Similar to her great role model Rafael Nadal, it's the surface she performs best on. She has won the French Open four times since 2020, most recently in 2024, as well as the WTA 1000 in Rome three times and Madrid once.

The 23-year-old has celebrated ten of her 22 career titles on clay, including two successes at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where the winner is also rewarded with a brand new Porsche in addition to the prize money and world ranking points.

The first time she won in Stuttgart, Swiatek celebrated her victory with a red Porsche Panamera, but in 2023 she left with a blue Porsche Taycan Turbo. After she was beaten in the semi-finals by Elena Rybakina last year, she now wants to expand her car collection once more.

But what has happened to the two luxury cars since then? ‘I drive them all the time,’ Swiatek said in an interview with Tennis Channel DE shortly before her start at this year's event. ‘My first car was the Panamera, so it's my favourite. I feel very comfortable in it and just love it.’

Iga Swiatek: ‘I would look pretty cool doing it!’

Although she travelled to Stuttgart this year without her own car, she doesn't want to miss out on the driving fun. ‘I love it so much that we can rent cars here and drive them during the tournament,’ said the Pole. Above all, it makes her everyday life during the tournament easier.

When you have your own car and can drive it, you feel freer. You can just drive anywhere. I really enjoy that.

How much she enjoys it becomes clear when she plays the game ‘Never have I ever…’ When asked, ‘Never in my life have I been caught singing in the car when I thought no one was watching,’ she laughingly admits: ‘I sing in the car all the time, but no one has ever seen me do it. But I wish someone had, because I think I look pretty cool doing it – like in a music video.’

She loves listening to music by ACDC, Guns N' Roses or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Her favourite song at the moment is “Can't stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. She always plays it on her headphones when she's about to enter the match court before a tournament. ’I always start with this song.’

After the 23-year-old played on hard courts in Indian Wells and Miami, she is now back on her favourite red clay in Stuttgart. ‘The change wasn't really difficult, because it's obvious that I love clay,’ she said.

‘I took a lot of time, so it's been very pleasant for me this season. We'll see how it goes in the match. But on the practice court, I felt good and took the time to learn new things.’

The two-time Stuttgart champion begins her campaign in the Porsche Arena on Wednesday. After a bye in round one, the world No. 2 faces Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.