Rockin' Rafa fan Swiatek on top of the world

 From bashful Rafael Nadal fan to the hard rock of Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses to the undisputed queen of women's tennis, Iga Swiatek has come a long way.

Having captured a first major at the pandemic-hit and delayed French Open in October 2020, Swiatek added a second at Roland Garros on Saturday.

Immediately, she sensed her responsibilities when she diverged from the standard post-final script where families, coaches and sponsors are thanked to cast a glance eastwards to the suffering in Ukraine.

"I wanted to say something to Ukraine, to stay strong, because the war is still there," said Swiatek, who has worn a ribbon in the colours of the Ukraine flag on her cap throughout the tournament.

"Since I made my speech in Doha (after winning the tournament in February), it had started, and I was hoping when I do the next tournament speech, the situation will be better, but I will still have hope."

On court over the last two weeks and throughout the year, Swiatek has been equally forthright.

In March, as she celebrated winning the Indian Wells-Miami double, she took the world number one ranking when Ashleigh Barty announced her shock retirement.

"I didn't think it was going to turn out this way," she said of her sudden rise to the top.

"I don't know if I deserve it. Now maybe a little more, because winning that title in Florida was very difficult."

It was in Australia that Swiatek played her first Grand Slam in 2019, reaching the second round. A few months later, she only lasted 45 minutes in the round of 16 against Simona Halep on her French Open debut.

It all started coming together in 2020 -- a fourth round in Melbourne, a third round at the US Open and then her first French Open, which was also her first title of any sort as a