Rafael Nadal's sister Maribel congratulates Iga Swiatek on her WTA Finals 2023 triumph

Rafael Nadal’s sister Maribel recently shared her excitement at Iga Swiatek winning her first WTA Finals title earlier on Monday (November 6).

Swiatek was in fine form all week long at the year-ending championships in Cancun, Mexico. The 22-year-old didn't drop a single set in her five matches against her elite peers, ending her week with a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing of World No. 5 Jessica Pegula.

She subsequently took to her Instagram handle to express just how elated she was with her title victory.

"What just happened?" the Pole wrote, along with an emoji.

A host of her celebrity supporters like Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn congratulated her on the social media post, but one comment stood out, in particular. Rafael Nadal's sister, Maribel, also appeared in her comments.

"Congraaats Iga," she wrote, followed by two clapping and one kiss emoji.

Maribel Nadal replying to Iga Swiatek's Instagram post was surprising, to say the least. She is hardly seen in the tennis public's eye and has never expressed her support for any player other than her elder brother Rafael Nadal.

Having said that, the 22-time Major winner's admiration for the Pole may have rubbed off on her. The Spanish bull, on his part, gets along well with her and also congratulated her after she won the 2023 French Open.

“Congrats! You are amazing!” Nadal wrote on his Instagram stories after this year's Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, has been on the sidelines since this year's Australian Open due to a hip injury, for which he underwent arthroscopic surgery. The Spaniard has played four professional matches this year, losing three of them.

Currently completing his rehabilitation, the former World No. 1 is expected to make his return to professional tennis in 2024.

Iga Swiatek sealed her place as the best women's player in 2023 with WTA Finals title and year-end No. 1 finish

Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, enjoyed an amazing season on the WTA tour in 2023. The Pole registered a 68-11 win-loss record, winning big titles at Roland Garros and the year-end tournament in Cancun. She also won three more titles in Beijing, Warsaw and Stuttgart.

By virtue of her WTA Finals triumph, Swiatek also ensured that she will end the season as the World No. 1 for the second year in a row.

The 22-year-old was involved in a very tight race for the top-ranked spot with her arch-rival Aryna Sabalenka, and had to get past her in the semifinals in Cancun to keep her No. 1 hopes alive.

Iga Swiatek's dominance over the WTA tour has not waned even after two years. While the Pole won 15 consecutive matches against top-10 opposition last year, while only losing two, she put together an impressive 13-6 record against the same crop of players this year.

More importantly, she has won her last seven matches against top-10 players — a run which dates back to the 2023 China Open. It goes without saying that she will again be the player to beat when the WTA tour returns next year.