Swiatek Supports Nadal but Defends Unseeded Status at French Open

World number one Iga Swiatek has expressed her support for Rafael Nadal at the French Open but believes it is fair that the 14-time champion has not been seeded. Nadal, ranked 276th in the world due to injuries, will face Alexander Zverev in the first round.

Despite Nadal's remarkable record at Roland Garros, Swiatek believes seeding should be based on recent results. "It would create a huge mess in the draws," she said. "You have so many past Grand Slam champions, and it would be unfair to seed some and not others based on which tournament they won."

Nadal is not the only unseeded Grand Slam champion at the French Open. Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Sofia Kenin, Bianca Andreescu, and Sloane Stephens are also unseeded. However, there have been precedents, such as Serena Williams being seeded 25th at Wimbledon in 2018 despite her low ranking.

Swiatek acknowledged the difficulty of Nadal's draw but expressed her support for the Spaniard. "It's a tough draw for Rafa, but I'm going to be kind of rooting for him," she said. "Sorry, Alex. We'll see."

Nadal's unseeded status has sparked debate about whether former champions should be given special consideration. However, Swiatek believes the current system is fair and ensures that players are seeded based on their recent performances.

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