Swiatek says Mikaela Shiffrin’s skiing record is akin to Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Serena Williams

Iga Swiatek and Mikaela Shiffrin have been members of a mutual appreciation society of late, chatting on social media and praising each other’s achievements in their respective sports.

But while three-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek is still in the early stages of her career, American skier Shiffrin is in a league of her own, her victory in Are, Sweden, on Saturday making her the most successful racer of all time with 87 World Cup race wins.

Speaking after her 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Claire Liu in her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Saturday, Shiffrin was asked if she could compare Shiffrin’s achievements to those of anyone in tennis.

“Well, any of the Big 3 guys (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) and Serena (Williams), I think,” she said. “Yeah, she (has) just dominated the sport. But on the other hand, the Big 3 had each other to kind of compete against each other, and she’s like dominating. She’s like better than anyone.”

“Swiatek on Shiffrin: “We haven’t met still”

Swiatek said her sports psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, had told her how Shiffrin is special to watch in person.

“I don’t know a lot about the technique but even I can see with my eyes that she has this huge talent,” she said. “I think she’s…making everything to optimise her potential and to just ski well mentally, physically, and technically.

“So I really respect that. She deserves this. And she’s a nice person. We haven’t met still, but like the Instagram messages tell me she’s a nice person. Huge congrats to her.”

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