'Speechless': Rafa Nadal's gym photo with Rome champ goes bonkers

Iga Swiatek has sent the tennis world ablaze after she shared her first photo with childhood idol Rafael Nadal hours before both went on to win their respective finals at the Italian Open.

The young Polish superstar, who is the defending French Open champion, is open about her admiration for Nadal since she was a child.

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Swiatek is crafting a special career of her own after winning the 2020 Roland Garros title and storming to the Italian Open title in Rome after defeating Karolina Pliskova.

But only hours before her victory, she happened to crossover with the Spanish legend.

Visiting the tennis club's gym, Swiatek noticed Nadal working on his quads.

The Polish champion took the opportunity to have a chat with one of her idols and take a photo.

"This is me and Rafa just casually showing his quads...Just kidding. You're so kind @RafaelNadal, thank you for taking the time before the match," Swiatek wrote.

Interestingly, this is Swiatek's first photo with Nadal, despite singing his praise last year after they both won Roland Garros.

The photo has quickly set the internet alight, but many fans also couldn't get over the size of Nadal's quads in the photo.

Swiatek also couldn't help but make a joke about the size of Nadal's quads.

This isn't the first, or last time, Nadal has been interrupted in the gym.

Last year, a photo of Nadal went viral when one of the young tennis students at his tennis academy in Mallorca took a social media video with the Spaniard.

But Nadal's awkward reaction to the short video went bonkers.

Nadal defeats Djokovic in Italian Open final

Novak Djokovic paid a classy tribute to Rafael Nadal on social media after losing to his great rival in the Italian Open final.

Nadal stamped his claim as French Open favourite with a 7-5 1-6 6-3 win over Djokovic to claim a record-extending 10th title in Rome in the latest chapter of their great rivalry.

After a mid-match wobble, Nadal turned up the heat in the decisive moments of his 57th meeting with top seed Djokovic - the pair's ninth in Rome - to secure the victory over the defending champion in two hours and 49 minutes.

The win will provide Nadal with a huge boost as he next targets a 14th Roland Garros crown when the clay-court grand slam begins on May 30.

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