Iga Swiatek's 28-match winning streak has seen her capture five consecutive championships—and carry her support for Ukrainian people on court.
World No. 1 Swiatek swept Madrid champion Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-2 successfully defending her Rome championship at the Foro Italico and stretching her career-best winning streak to 28 matches.
More: Swiatek Rules Rome Again
If you've watched Swiatek throughout this streak then you know she's worn a blue and yellow ribbon affixed to her white baseball cap as a show of support for Ukrainian people suffering violence and destruction at the hands of invading Russian forces.
Asked about it today, Swiatek said she will continue to wear the ribbon in a show of support until Ukraine has peace.
"I know that many players played with ribbons at the beginning of the war where all the fuss was a little bit more loud," Swiatek said. "I realized that some of them took them off, which is for me pretty weird because there is still war, there are people still suffering. I'm going to wear it until the situation is going to get better.
"It's also how media works, how it fusses up, then goes a little bit down. Hopefully still players are going to be more supportive."
The 20-year-old Pole said she's proud of the support her native Poland has shown welcoming Ukrainian refugees to their nation as a safe haven.
Swiatek said she will be launching an initiative for Ukrainian people.
"For sure the war is affecting Poland a little bit more," Swiatek said. "It's something that I can't experience with them because I'm traveling all around Europe. I was in States for a long time when the war, you know, started.
"I know it's tough. I know Polish people are supporting. I'm also going to support soon and do some initiative that is going to change something hopefully. That's also my goal. I know I've been talking about it for a long time, but I can make it official right now. I for sure want to show my support to Ukrainian people, as every Polish person is doing at home."
Photo credit: Getty